Tuesday 26th February

It has been a long winter so far for the lads and horses but it is exciting to at least have a runner again, Sibaya makes her debut at Lingfield this afternoon in the six furlong maiden at 4.40 pm. She like three of the four runners is by Exceed And Excel who is an influence for speed, out of Abunai who won three races as a two year old over five and six furlongs. She is a good mover and shows promise in her work but she faces more experienced rivals.

 

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Posted on 26 Feb 2013
HORSES FOR 2013 - TWO YEAR OLDS

 

TWO YEAR OLD COLTS
 
CANOVA – ART CONNOISSEUR/RAIN DANCER ch.c.
He is from the first crop of Art Connoisseur and he was bought by John Warren for the Royal Ascot Racing Club from Book 2 at Newmarket. He is an attractive colt with a good temperament and it should be remembered that his sire won in April as a two year old and I hope he gives them a lot of fun. (Royal Ascot Racing Club)
 
DARK LEOPARD – DUBAWI/CLOUDED LEOPARD b.c.
He is a half brother to Tiger Cub and from the family of Breeders’ Cup winner Pounced. Neat and attractive and I hope he will feature as a two year old. (Lady Rothschild)
 
HIGH CHURCH – HIGH CHAPARRAL/TAMSO b.c.
He is a rangy colt and a half brother to Tartary (Oasis Dream) and is unlikely to be seen until the second half of the season (Lady Rothschild)
 
KIDDING APART (USA) – LEMON DROP KID/OCEANS APART ch.c.
He is out of a winning half sister to the Group winner Border Patrol from a good family Elite Racing have done so well with. His sire is doing well but he may need time. (Elite Racing)
 
KING OF NASSAU – BAHAMIAN BOUNTY/DESERT ROYALTY b,c,
He was bought at the December Sales for a partnership and he is a strong individual by a sire who is doing well from the family of the speedy Carol’s Treasure. (The Rowling Syndicate)
 
OLD GUARD – NOTNOWCATO/DOLMA b.c.
He may need a little time but he is an attractive, rangy colt and a half brother to Thistle Bird and Don Marco.  (Lady Rothschild)
 
SEA DEFENCE – MIZZEN MAST/PALISADE gr/ro c.
He is a half brother to four winners and his second dam Peplum won the Cheshire Oaks. He is a big colt who will probably need time and his sire is doing really well siring two Breeders’ Cup winners at Santa Anita in 2012. (Juddmonte)
 
SKI BLAST – THREE VALLEYS/CHASING STARS ch. c.
His dam won four races in France and was Group placed. He comes from the great family of Reams of Verse, Elmaamul and Mofida. He moves well and I hope he can do well for his sire who has now been “ relocated overseas.” (Juddmonte)
  
SKILLED – MASTERCRAFSMAN/TREACLE b.c.
He will need a little time but he caught my eye at the sales. From the first crop of Mastercraftsman, his dam has bred three winners from four runners so far. (Beckhampton)
  
STOMP – NAYEF/STRUT b.c.
He ia an attractive, strong colt and a half brother to Mince and it will be hard for him to be better or faster than her but who knows !  (Lady Rothschild)
 
X AFFLUENT – RAILLINK/AFFLUENT b.c.
He is the first foal out of a filly I trained who won twice over the minimum trip and he is a close relation to many good horses from the Peace family including Deportivo, So Beloved and Wandesta. (Juddmonte)
 
X AMBER QUEEN – MEDICEAN/AMBER QUEEN ch. c.
He is a nice big strong colt bought by Charlie Gordon Watson from Book 2 at Newmarket. His dam won twice and she is a half sister to the Sun Chariot Gr.1 winner Spinning Queen. He has a great temperament and may not run until the autumn.  (Sultan Shah)
 
X CASSIQUE LADY – SIR PERCY/CASSIQUE LADY b.c.
He was another colt which I bought at the December Sales in Newmarket with the purpose of forming a partnership. By a Derby winner who is getting plenty of tough horses and out of a (Warwick) Oaks winner, he should stay at least ten furlongs. (Paul Inglett and Partners)
 
X CORSICAN SUNSET – AUTHORIZED/CORSICAN SUNSET b. c.
He was bred at the same stud as Clowance and Keys, and he is a half brother to several winners and he is forward going. (Seasons Holidays)
 
X ENFORCE – SIR PERCY/ENFORCE b.c.
He is the second of two Sir Percys bought to form a new partnership. He is neat and athletic and a full brother to a winning two year old Van Percy. His sire is doing well and he is getting a high percentage of winners to runners. (S de Zoete and Partners)
 
X OSHIPONGA – MEDICEAN/OSHIPONGA ch. c.
I trained his dam and she comes from a good winning Hascombe Stud family that includes Inchinor.  (James Stewart)
 
X PARTY – GALILEO/PARTY ch.c.
It is always exciting to have a colt by the great Galileo. He was bred by Highclere Stud and his dam won the Radley Stakes Listed as a two year old. His half sister is the tough race mare Party Line (Montjeu) who won four of her races in 2012. He was bought for Barry Hurley from Tattersalls Book 1. (Seasons Holidays)
 
X YASHMAK – EMPIRE MAKER/YASHMAK b.c.
His dam won the Flower Bowl Gr.1 at Belmont and the Ribblesdale Gr.2 at Royal Ascot. He is from a very successful Juddmonte family which includes Commander In Chief, Warning and Rainbow Quest. His half brother Sound of Nature won seven races both here and in Australia. I hope he will be a lovely colt for the Autumn.  (Juddmonte) 
 
 
TWO YEAR OLD FILLIES
 
AMBER ISLE – FIRST DEFENCE/FAMILY b.f.
She is a full sister to Dundonnell (USA) and looks quite forward so I hope she will keep the “family” going. (Juddmonte)
 
CATADUPA – SELKIRK/CARIBANA ch.f.
She is a scopey filly by one of my favourite stallions and she has a big white face like Cityscape’s. Her full sister Cubanita remains in training as a four year old and won a listed race over 10 furlongs at Doncaster in November (Miss K.Rausing)
 
FRANGIPANNI – DANSILI/FRIZZANTE  b.f.
She is a neat and very pretty filly and a half sister to two winners. Her dam won seven of her sixteen races including the July Cup Gr. 1 and she beat Avonbridge a short head in the Palace House Stakes. Frizzante was unraced at 2 and didn’t win until June as a three year old but she improved considerably as she got older. (Lady Rothschild)
 
LADY TYNE – HALLING/SUSUN KELAPA ch.f.
She only arrived in the yard this week but she is a well grown athletic filly but bred to need time. (Paul Hearson)
 
LILY FIRE– FIRST DEFENCE/DIDINA b.f.
She is an attractive filly and another close relative to Cityscape and Bated Breath. First Defence has now sired eleven individual winners from his first crop but Dundonnell (USA) is his only stakes winner to date. (Juddmonte)
 
SCARLET PLUM - PIVOTAL/SCARLET RUNNER b.f.
She is her dam’s first living foal after being barren to Danehill Dancer and slipping to Pivotal. Scarlet Runner was a good race mare winning the Princess Margaret Stakes Gr.3 as a two year old and the Nell Gwyn Stakes Gr.3 the following year. She is lovely looking filly and I hope she will have a future for her owner breeder. (Nicholas Jones)
 
SLEEP WALK – OASIS DREAM/SCUFFLE gr.f.
Her dam is a half sister to Cityscape and Bated Breath and won three races as a three year old for us. She is a first foal and looks tough and robust like her dam. (Juddmonte)
 
VALLILA – DUNKERQUE/VILLABELLA b.f.
She is a first foal from a family that is doing well in France and it's her sire's first crop who was a good sprinter . She moves well and looks like being quite early. (Norris Bloodstock)
 
X FEMME FATALE – SHIROCCO/FEMME FATALE ch.f.
She was an inexpensive purchase from Newmarket but she has an attractive pedigree as her dam was rated 106 and won the Firth of Clyde Stakes Listed and has bred four winners so far. (Andrew Bengough & Partners)
 
X INTERCONTINENTAL– SMART STRIKE/INTERCONTINENTAL drb/b. f.
She is a lovely filly out of a Champion race mare who won 13 races including the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf Gr.1 and the Matriarch Stakes Gr.1. Her dam is a full sister to another Champion Banks Hill, Cacique, Champs Elysees and Dansili. I hope she can improve on her relations ! (Juddmonte)
 
X PROCESSION - BAHAMIAN BOUNTY/PROCESSION ch.f.
She is a well balanced and good moving filly and a half sister to six winners. Her second dam Applaud won the Cherry Hinton. I hope her syndicate of enthusiastic owners will have plenty of fun. (Axom)
  
X SHORT DANCE – CHAMPS ELYSEES/SHORT DANCE b.f.
She hasn’t arrived yet but her dam won three races at 2 and 3 years as well as being stakes placed. (Juddmonte)
 
X TREKKING – FIRST DEFENCE/TREKKING b.f.
Her dam is by Gone West and a half sister to Tantina the dam of Cityscape & Bated Breath. Trekking won a race for me before switching to Bobby Frankel and being Gr.2 placed at Santa Anita over 9 furlongs. This is another racy looking daughter of First Defence. (Juddmonte)
 
 
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Posted on 16 Feb 2013
Horses 2013 - THREE YEAR OLDS

 

THREE YEAR OLDS
 
by kind permission of  Mark Howard author of  AHEAD ON THE FLAT & RACING UK  
  
ABATED b f Dansili – Tantina (USA)
A very well bred filly being a full-sister to Bated Breath and a half-sister to Cityscape, she showed promise in both her races last year. She has always worked nicely at home and, having finished sixth on her debut at Newbury, she was runner-up at Kempton next time. Both her races have been over six furlongs but I hope she will stay further. She has shown enough to suggest she can win a maiden before climbing the ladder.
 
CANDOLUMINESCENCE b or br f Dansili – Flash Of Gold
A half-sister to Moidore, she is a big scopey filly who showed progressive form in her two maidens last Autumn. She won’t be running until a bit later than the others but her pedigree suggests she is going to stay well as a three year old.
 
DAWN OF EMPIRE  b f  Empire Make (USA) - Didina
A big rangy unraced filly, she is well bred being related to Bated Breath and Cityscape. However, she is very much an unknown quantity at this stage.
 
DEFIANT SPIRIT ch g Compton Place - Muffled (USA)
He is an unraced gelding by Compton Place and a half brother to five winners over sprint distances.  He was immature last year but he has strengthened up well over the winter.  
 
DON MARCO b g Choisir (AUS) – Dolma (FR)
He showed plenty of promise on his debut at Newbury finishing fourth before winning readily next time at Goodwood. A shade keen early on, he did the job well. Although he isn’t over big, he possesses ability and is progressive. He has worn a hood on both starts but it is a family trait because his half-sister Thistle Bird is the same. We will be aiming him at the good three year old six furlongs handicaps, he has a BHA rating of 88.
 
 
 
DUNDONNELL (USA)
 
DUNDONNELL (USA) b c First Defence (USA) – Family (USA) I have been pleased with him during the winter because he has done well and grown again. Twice a winner last year, including the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York, I thought he ran very well in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. I was delighted with the way he handled the preliminaries because he had been edgy at Doncaster on St Leger day on his previous start. There was a huge crowd on that occasion to see Camelot and he got worked up beforehand. However, I think the run at Santa Anita helped him grow up. I thought he did well to finish fourth. A horse with lots of scope and potential, I view him as a miler and he is likely to be given a Guineas preparation. Fast ground suits him well.
 
FIRST SECRETARY b f Nayef (USA) – Spinning Queen
An inexperienced filly, she is related to Gallipot and Trade Commissioner who both improved with age. She is a nice looking filly who showed promise on her only outing at Lingfield racing wide turning for home. I would expect her to come into her own over middle distances.
 
GREENERY (IRE) b f Green Desert (USA) – Go Between
A small neat filly, she won handily at Wolverhampton on her final start. Despite the fact she lacks a bit of scope, I would be disappointed if she couldn’t win more races off her current mark of 71. She has plenty of speed and is a sprinter.
 
INAUGURAL b g Invincible Spirit (IRE) – Anasazi (IRE)
Well held on a couple of occasions, he ran well on his second start at Newbury when finishing fourth. The handicapper has given him a mark of 75 and he will head down that route straightaway. I would expect him to stay at least a mile this year and I hope he will improve.
 
IMPASSE b f Dansili - Meetyouthere (IRE)
She is the first foal of a winning mare from the family of Infamy, Innuendo & Moon Queen.  She is still an unknown quantity but she is bred to stay and moves well. 
 
LIBERTY JACK (IRE) b g Sakhee (USA) – Azeema (IRE)
A half-brother to Trader Jack and a relation of Al Kazeem, he showed promise at home prior to his debut at Newbury. Still immature both mentally and physically last year, he is a horse of potential.
 
MAGOG br g Dansili – Margarula (IRE)
He won the other division of a maiden race at Salisbury in October to So Beloved on his debut but the form hasn't really been franked as yet. He is a scopey horse though and his dam won the Irish Oaks for Jim Bolger suggesting he will stay ten and twelve furlongs. His rating of 75 gives him a chance, especially as he still looked immature last year. He clearly enjoyed soft ground at Salisbury and Ian Mongan said he could tell he liked it on the way to the start. It remains to be seen whether it is a necessity.
 
MAWSON b g Starcraft (NZ) – No Fear No Favour (AUS)
Sixth on both his starts at Newbury and Kempton last season, he suffered with sore shins .He was an immature horse last year but I am hoping he will have benefited from being gelded and from a winter break.
 
PYTHAGOREAN b g Oasis Dream – Hypoteneuse (IRE)
Despite being placed in all four of his starts, I was disappointed he couldn’t get his head in front last year. His homework was encouraging but his pedigree has a mixture of speed and stamina. We have gelded him since and hopefully he will win a maiden before going down the handicap route. He possesses the size and scope to make a nice three year old and he is rated 78.
 
QUEST FOR MORE (IRE) b c Teofilo (IRE) – No Quest (IRE)
Fourth at Kempton on his second start, he is a rangy, leggy horse who will want a trip this year. He needs one more race before going handicapping and is a big galloping horse. I hope he is the type to improve as the year goes on.
 
RAILSTAR b f Rail Link - Widescreen
Unraced, she has shown promise in her work at home and she's a full sister to Newnton Lodge. She is an unknown quantity at this stage.
 
RANDOM SUCCESS b.f. Sharmadal (USA) - Foreplay (IRE)
She was bought at the Doncaster breeze-up sales in April last year.  Foreplay won twice and she is the dam of two winners from two runners. She moves well and we will know more about her next month.
 
RUSSIAN LINK b f Rail Link - Zathonia
Another unraced filly, she is slightly highly strung but is attractive and I hope she will make her mark and is related to Top Offer.
 
SECONDO (FR) b c Sakhee’s Secret – Royal Jade
A nice looking colt who had shown promise last season. I thought he ran well on his debut at Newbury before running slightly below par next time at Windsor. He has been enjoying a winter break at his owner's stud and I would like to think he can win a maiden before going handicapping over sprint distances.
 
SERENITY SPA gr f Excellent Art – Molly Mello (GER)
Runner-up on her debut at Ascot, it is possible she was flattered by that performance because she failed to win either of her next two starts on the AW. She is a scopey filly though who ought to improve as a three year old. A half-sister to Brunston, she will hopefully stay a mile and has a rating of 73.
 
SIBAYA b f Exceed And Excel (AUS) – Abunai
An unraced lightly framed filly, she has plenty of speed in her pedigree, her dam Abunai won three times for us over 5 and 6 furlongs in 2006  and we will probably start her off in a six furlongs maiden shortly. She is a good mover who didn't come into training until mid summer last year.
 
SO BELOVED b c Dansili – Valencia
A very big horse measuring 16.2hh who I have always liked. He is a lovely moving horse and I think weakness caught him out on his debut at Newbury when he got tired. He travelled well and won comfortably next time at Salisbury but I made a mistake running him again at Newmarket. When he got to the start, he got upset and worked up and was fractious in the stalls. He then pulled too hard in the race and didn’t get home. I have been pleased with him during the winter and he will start off in a handicap, currently rated 88, over either seven or eight furlongs.
 
TARTARY (IRE) b c Oasis Dream – Tamso (USA)
He confirmed the promise he showed on his debut by winning next time at Kempton over 6 furlongs and is a colt with plenty of scope. The form looks fair with the runner-up and fifth winning since. Nicely bred, he will start off over six furlongs but should stay further. There is a possibility he will get a mile.
 
THE DARK WIZARD (IRE) gr g Dark Angel (IRE) - Knapton Hill
He is an unraced gelding by Dark Angel and a half brother to the winning two year old Pitlochry.  His second dam Torgau won the Cherry Hinton Gr. 2.  He is still an unknown quantity but he is a big and strong horse who looks like a sprinter.
 
TOP TRAIL (USA) b or br f Exchange Rate (USA) – Trekking (USA)
A half-sister to Deck Walk who we used to train, she displayed a bit of promise on her only outing at Kempton towards the backend and is another from the family of Cityscape and Bated Breath. Hopefully she will improve as a three year old and ought to be effective over six and seven furlongs.

 

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Posted on 12 Feb 2013
Horses 2013 - OLDER HORSES

 

OLDER HORSES
 
by kind permission of  Mark Howard author of  AHEAD ON THE FLAT & RACING UK 

AL KAZEEM 
 
AL KAZEEM 5 b h Dubawi (IRE) – Kazeem
An impressive winner of the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket last spring, he unfortunately suffered an injury during the race and missed the remainder of the season. We toyed with the idea of bringing him back in the Autumn but eventually ran out of time. The form of his win at Newmarket worked out well and he is a lightly raced well bred horse. He is in good form at home and there is every chance he will make his reappearance in the same race. Our plan last year was to go to Epsom for the Coronation Cup and, if everything goes well at Newmarket, we will probably follow that route this time.
 
BISHOP ROKO 4 b g Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) – Kirk
A six lengths winner on his debut at Newbury in May, he unfortunately suffered a tendon injury which meant he has had plenty of time off. All being well, he will be back in action by May/June and we will probably be looking towards a conditions race. Officially rated 96, the form has worked out well from Newbury and I am hoping he will progress into a Pattern horse eventually.
 
 
 
BORDER LEGEND

 BORDER LEGEND 4 ch g Selkirk (USA) – Bonnie Doon (IRE)A very big horse and, being by Selkirk, I am hoping he will improve with age. He won his maiden at Windsor and I felt the draw probably beat him on his final run at Nottingham. He raced out wide and came to win his race but was run out of it close home. We tried him over ten furlongs at Newbury but he didn’t stay hence we dropped him back to a mile. Although we may try him over further in due course, he will start off over a mile and a race like the Spring Cup at Newbury is a possibility. 

CACTUS VALLEY (IRE) 4 b g Lawman (FR) – BeechGardens
A consistent horse who won at Sandown in August and I would like to think there are more races to be won with him. Runner-up behind the subsequent November Handicap winner at Nottingham on his final run, he is medium sized but has improved physically during the winter. He will continue to run in ten and twelve furlongs handicaps.
 
CAPTAIN CAT (IRE) 4 b or br g Dylan Thomas (IRE) – Mother of Pearl (IRE)
Lightly raced, he is a big horse measuring16.2 hh who has shown progressive form. Fifth on his only run as a juvenile, he looked good when winning his maiden at Newmarket and the form has worked out. Despite his victory, Jamie Spencer felt he was still a big weak horse hence we gave him a break until early October. Runner-up on his return to action at Ascot, he travelled strongly and looked like winning until getting tired late on. He has the size and pedigree to keep on improving and, although he may start off over a mile, he ought to stay at least a mile and a quarter.
 
 
CITYSCAPE
 
CITYSCAPE 7 ch h Selkirk (USA) – Tantina (USA)
Following the retirement of Frankel and Excelebration, he is the highest rated miler in Europe BHA 124 and the aim is to try and win a domestic Group 1 this season. He has been a fantastic horse over the years and it was great to see him win the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free at Meydan last spring. He has done a lot of travelling during his career and has been very consistent. I would imagine he will start off in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury followed by the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. The ground has become less of an issue as he has got older but I wouldn’t run him on very quick ground. He is suited by flat galloping tracks or ones with an uphill finish.
 
CLOWANCE ESTATE (IRE) 4 b g Teofilo (IRE) – Whirly Bird
A winner on his racecourse debut at Lingfield, he incurred a setback shortly afterwards and was unable to run again. The form of his win isn’t strong but it was an encouraging start to his career and his pedigree suggests he will improve with age. The handicapper has given him a mark of 85, which I feel is high enough for what he has achieved but I hope he will make an impact in ten and twelve furlongs handicaps.
 
CRY FURY 5 b g Beat Hollow – Cantanta
He ran well in a competitive handicap at Epsom’s Derby meeting but didn’t get the clearest of runs late. Unfortunately, he is another who picked up an injury which sidelined him for the second half of the season. Still lightly raced, I am keen to try him over a mile and a half again at some stage but he needs to learn to settle. On breeding, he ought to stay.
 
DEFINIGHTLY 7 b or br g Diktat – Perfect Night
He has given us a lot of pleasure and earned  £176,000 during his career. Successful in the Group 3 Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh, he also ran some very good races in defeat including been beaten 3/4 length by Mayson in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket. We have tried him over further but five furlongs is his trip. He likes to dominate and enjoys soft ground. He doesn’t, however, seem to like heavy ground having run poorly twice in such conditions. We will follow a similar programme to last year and contest Listed and Group races over the minimum trip.
 
MAFETENG 5 b m Nayef-Marakabei
She arrived recently from her winter break at Lavington Stud having previously been trained by John Dunlop. She won her last two races and I understand that she prefers fast ground and stays two miles well.  She is a sweet mare and seems to have a lovely temperament.
 
 
 
MINCE
 
MINCE 4 ch f Medicean – Strut
She had a wonderful season winning five times, including a Group 3 and two Listed events. A straightforward filly, she had a couple of blips at Haydock and Newmarket during the summer for no apparent reason but won her next four races. She did endure a hard race at Ascot on her final start but she has had a lovely winter off at Waddesdon Stud and she is the highest rated sprinting filly in training. Effective on any ground, she has a lot of potential and, in all likelihood, she will start off in the Duke of York Stakes in May. Her first big target will be Royal Ascot. Even though she has been winning over six furlongs, I wouldn’t be against dropping her back to five because we considered running her in the Prix de L’Abbaye last Autumn.
 
SANCTIONED 4 b g Authorized (IRE) – Kazeem
A big backward horse, he is a half-brother to Al Kazeem and ought to improve as a four year old. Fourth on his final run at Lingfield, he looks as though he will stay well and I think he will get two miles eventually. Hopefully, there is more to come from him.
 
SILVER LIME (USA) 4 b c Mizzen Mast (USA) – Red Dot (USA)
Lightly raced and rated 93, he looked progressive last season winning at Goodwood and finishing third in a valuable handicap at Ascot in September. Although he needs to improve again, I am hoping he will be running in Listed races at some stage this season. He will start off in the good middle distances handicaps though.
 
 
THISTLE BIRD
 
THISTLE BIRD 5 b m Selkirk (USA) – Dolma (FR)
She had a great season winning three Listed races and finishing runner-up in her other two races, including the Group 2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood. You are never quite sure what to expect when keeping four year old fillies in training but she had a tremendous season. Rather like her dam, she has her quirks such as an issue with the stalls and wears a hood but she is extremely tough. The aim now is to try and win a Group race. We campaigned her exclusively over a mile last season but I think she might stay a bit further. A race like the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket’s Guineas meeting is a possibility and the Middleton Stakes at York is another race to consider. We are going to be bold with her.
 
TIOMAN LEGEND 4 b g Kyllachy – Elegant Times (IRE)
I thought he was unlucky on occasions last season. He ran a very good race behind Mince in a competitive handicap at Newmarket when beaten less than a length having missed the break. He was also placed at ‘Glorious’ Goodwood. There were disappointing runs in between but the decision was made to keep him in training rather than sell him. I think six furlongs is his trip, although he is suited by a strongly run five furlongs.
 
 
TOP OFFER
 
TOP OFFER 4 b g Dansili – Zante
An impressive winner of his only start as a juvenile at Newbury, he proved disappointing last year but nothing went right for him. He has always shown plenty of promise in his work at home but his maiden win didn’t work out and there was a lot of hype surrounding him during the spring. We were keen to run him in the Greenham but soft ground ruled him out. He therefore went straight to the Newmarket for the 2000 Guineas lacking experience. Having travelled well, he failed to finish off his race in testing conditions. I don’t think he raced on the best part of the track either. We dropped him in class at Sandown but he failed to settle. A decision was made to geld him and we gave him the rest of the season off. It is a case of starting a fresh and building him up again. His owner has been very patient and, in all likelihood, he will start off in a handicap off his mark of 95. He ought to stay a mile if he settles but there is a possibility he will drop back in distance as he isn’t short of speed.
 
TRADER JACK 4 b g Trade Fair – Azeema (IRE)
Runner-up on three occasions last year, he had the misfortune to bump into some improving young horses, including Blue Surf, Grandeur and Sir Graham Wade. His form looks very sound but he is a horse who needs cover because he can be keen early on. On his final run at Newmarket, he almost travelled too well and didn’t get home. Unfortunately, he won his maiden as a two year old in very good style but it was a weak race and the handicapper over rated him and then never relented last season. He appears to have grown up since last year and I hope he can improve. Ten furlongs suits him well but he should stay further.
 
WATERCLOCK (IRE) 4 ch g Notnowcato – Waterfall One
He looked a nice horse when winning his only start as a juvenile at Newbury. Fifth on his reappearance at the same track during the spring, he didn’t run a bad race but had a few issues thereafter and hasn’t raced since. If we can get him back to his best, he looks fairly treated on a rating of 84 for middle distance handicaps.
 

 

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Posted on 08 Feb 2013
Saturday 26th January 2013

2013 has started off coldly, as it has for everyone else.  The team at Beckhampton have done a great job getting the horses out for exercise and the polytrack has been kept in operation throughout by the groundstaff.

We have a lot of the two year olds in and some of the our old friends will soon be returning to the yard, gearing up for the 2013 season, following on from our most successful year ever in 2012.

 

A wintery exercise at Beckhampton Stables

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Posted on 26 Jan 2013
Saturday 8th December

Sakhee’s Rose was very disappointing yesterday at Lingfield and although she managed to ‘drop’ George Baker on the way to the start, which did not effect her, she ran a very ‘flat’ race. She never seemed to be travelling and she was beaten a long way from home. Maybe the race came too soon after her victory at Kempton and there were no other suitable races for her to run in before the New Year. She will now have a break and hopefully return fresh and well for the start of the flat season.

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Posted on 08 Dec 2012
Friday 7th December

Sakhee’s Rose was up early this morning to go to Lingfield to run in the 11.50 am. Previously she has run at Wolverhampton and Kempton twice, but this will be her first start at Lingfield. Three of our last four runners have been winners so expectations will no doubt be high and with George Baker in the driving seat I hope she will run well.

 

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Posted on 07 Dec 2012
Wednesday 5th December

Beckhampton had a successful day at the December sales yesterday where Sea 0f Heartbreak was sold for 550,000 guineas and will be covered by See The Stars in 2013. She was a charming filly and always so easy to deal with and everyone here will miss her. She won six races and over £150,000 which included The Prix de Royallieu at Longchamp Group 2. She was unsold as a yearling filly for 38,000 guineas in 2008 and her owner breeder David Hardisty (now sadly deceased) would have been thrilled to know that his faith in her had been rewarded.

Sea Of Heartbreak (IRE)

I also had great pleasure in visiting Banstead Manor Stud to see my old friend Bated Breath and of course Frankel together with Juddmonte’s magnificent collection of stallions that include Dansili and Oasis Dream. Bated Breath has been much admired and he looked particularly well and relaxed in his smart new surroundings. I gather that he has been extremely well received with a huge number of mare owners wishing to use him in the New Year.

Bated Breath

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Posted on 05 Dec 2012
Friday 30th November

Serenity Spa ran a more encouraging race having settled well to finish a staying on second to the well regarded Rivellino. She will not run again this year and the handicapper should rate her in the low seventies which will give her a chance to go one better next year, especially over seven furlongs

Greenery (IRE) goes to Wolverhampton this afternoon for the first race, a five furlong Nursery Handicap. This is her first start in a handicap and also on the All Weather.  In her first start at Newbury she ran well in a decent race but did not quite get home over six furlongs and the ground at Ffos Las on her second start was very soft and did not suit her. She did show more promise on her third run at Nottingham to finish on the heels of the leaders. She is well drawn today and as long as she settles and handles the kick back she should have a good chance.  As Greenery is quite a free going filly she would ideally be suited to being held up but the kick back at Woverhampton is particularly bad and does not often suit horses coming from off the pace.
 
 
GREENERY (IRE)
 
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Posted on 30 Nov 2012
Wednesday November 28th

We go back to Kempton today as long as the Thames has not burst its banks! Kempton has been good to us in recent weeks with three winners from a handful of runners.

Serenity Spa runs in the maiden race at 5.30 pm. She was perhaps a little disappointing in her last race over the course and distance a month ago, having raced too freely in the early stages and not quite seeing out her race. It is possible that having not run for over three months that she may have been a bit fresh on that occasion. I hope that she will settle better today as there is plenty of stamina in her pedigree and I hope seven furlongs will suit her in the future.
 
 
Serenity Spa
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Posted on 28 Nov 2012

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