Hint Of Promise finished 5th in her race last night and I hope she will be capable of winning a race before she goes to the December sales, she is still inexperienced but improving.

Today we have a two year old in both divisions of the six furlong maiden race, both making their debut. Don Marco is a half brother by Choisir to Thistle Bird from a speedy family. Although he is a small gelding he has shown some promise in his work, but it would appear that the first division looks particularly competitive. Secondo (FR) is a big colt by Sakhee’s Secret who has made a very good start to his first season at stud. Most of my two year olds need their first run and they should benefit from their day out.
 

Alvitude (USA) was not helped by missing the break from his wide draw but he stayed on well in the closing stages to finish 5th. He is likely to be in Juddmonte Farms draft at the Horse’s In Training Sale, he has plenty of scope to improve and make a potential hurdler. Alerted USA) was always well placed to finish 4th and beaten just over two lengths. It was probably quite a competitive affair with Juddmonte Farms first string a half sister to Midday (champion race mare) making an impressive debut

Today Hint Of Promise goes to Kempton to run in the mile maiden race at 6.40 pm. She has a habit of missing the break which is not very helpful at Kempton but I hope she will have improved a little on her first race.
 

Hint Of Promise

Alvernia has two of her children running this evening at Kempton, with her son Alvitude (USA) running at 6.45 pm in the mile and quarter handicap. To date he has been slightly disappointing but I am hoping for a better performance this evening. His half sister Alerted (USA) who is by Dondonnell’s sire First Defence runs in the two year old fillies mile maiden race at 7.45 pm. Apart from getting loose in the paddock prior to her first race at Warwick she did show some promise and stayed on well to finish 5th.

Alvitude (USA)

No runners today and not much news to report.  Cityscape is fine after his race and starts his journey back to the UK later today.  The handicapper has now recognised Dundonnell's talents and raised him 7lb to 113 as a result of being second at Doncaster.  Mince has been raised 8lb to 113, so with her sex allowance of 3lb in a Group One race puts her a 1lb behind Bated Breath.

Our two runners at Ffos Las did not particularly distinguish themselves but they both had legitimate excuses. Greenery ran a bit too freely and would appreciate faster ground which during the day had deteriorated to being soft and rather chopped up! Selfara likewise did not get the trip and will drop back to five furlongs and on quicker ground.

At Woodbine Cityscape ran a good race to be placed in another Group 1. He has now run 21 times earning 2.77 million pounds and only being unplaced three times so a  very commendable and consistent record. He looked in terrific condition before the race but perhaps he did not run with his normal zest. The ground was described in the Racing post as being firm but in fact both James and I were of the opinion that it was good and the going could not be used as an excuse. It was never going to be easy to give 3lb to Wise Dan, a horse that looks a worthy favourite for the Breeders Cup Mile.  He is due to return home on Wednesday and he will have a deserved couple of easy weeks before we make any decisions about his future.

I suppose it is always frustrating to be a beaten favourite in a group race but the race was not really run to suit to Dundonnell.  He is a big strong free going colt who needs a decent pace and plenty of cover and having dropped in behind Tha'Ir James found himself several lengths behind Toronado and had to make up ground to challenge the eventual winner.  The race was perhaps run to suit the winner and it was no disgrace to be beaten half a length by Richard Hannon's best two year old.  We will carefully consider his future before deciding if and where he runs again this season.

Rex Imperator messed up badly in the stalls giving George Baker an unpleasant few minutes and rearing up, probably resulted in him losing the race at the start.  He is likely to continue his racing career with the king of the sprinters, Dandy Nicholls and I gather he will have a rest before going to Dubai at Christmas for his new owners Clipper Logistics.  I wish them the best of luck with him and I am sure he is more than capable of lifting a valuable prize in the future.

Apparently there was three hours of rain at Woodbine yesterday which is good news and all reports continue to be encouraging regarding Cityscape's wellbeing.  He seems to be moving well and taking everything in his stride so fingers crossed that he will earn a few Canadian Dollars for his hungry trainer.

Cityscape

Today we send two fillies to Ffos Las.  Greenery runs in the first race, a 5 furlong fillies maiden race having previously run over 6 furlongs.  She is in good form but she has 7 lengths to find with the likely favourite Jillnextdoor.  

Selfara returns to Ffos Las trying to land a three timer, she goes back up to 6 furlongs and will be ridden by George Baker for the first time in the 6 furlong handicap at 4.00pm

I was pleased with the way Border Legend ran yesterday as he did not get the clearest of runs but still ran on well to finish third.   I hope he will now be able to progress. 

Dundonnell (USA) runs today at  2.25 in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.  This will be a stiffer task but he is in good form and an exciting two year old for Juddmonte Farms.

Dundonnell (USA)

Rex Imperator runs at 3.00 in the Portland Handicap also at Doncaster.   He has been unlucky in his latest runs and let's hope he gets the breaks today.

Rex Imperator

Border Legend is our only runner today and goes to Sandown for the three year old mile handicap at 3.05 pm. He has not run for over three months since winning his maiden race at Windsor. He is a fine big son of Selkirk, who probably has not still reached his full maturity, but he is in good form and the Sandown hill should suit him but ideally he would have preferred more cut in the ground.
 

Border Legend

Cityscape continues to be in good form and he is due to work on the Woodbine turf later this morning. There will be a field of nine runners and he has been drawn in stall seven. He has been enjoying his new location and has a room with a view looking out onto the track which is a bit of a contrast to life in Wiltshire.
 

Supreme Quest jumped well from her good draw but unfortunately she faced a stiff task as a three year old filly against a field made up of older sprint handicappers.  She is a tough and sound filly with a good pedigree and likely to be heading to Newmarket for the Horses in Training Sale in October.

Today our only runner Sakhee's Rose runs in the 7 furlong two year old maiden race at Leicester  2.20 pm.  She should handle the current fast conditions but there are several colts in the race who might be more experienced and have stronger form than her at the moment.

The news from Cityscape who arrived in Toronto on Sunday is encouraging. He travelled well, has settled into his new surroundings and eating well but at this stage he is only doing light exercise on the track until his freshness fully returns after such a long journey. He will be doing steady canters until Friday morning when he will do some faster work on the turf track in preparation for his race on Sunday. I hope to arrive with James Doyle a few hours before the race and return to Heathrow the same evening.

There are expected to be 9 or 10 runners in the Woodbine Mile Gr1:  Dance And Dance and Worthadd traveled over with Cityscape via Amsterdam, possibly 6/7 Woodbine trained horses and Wise Dan (USA) from America.  Wise Dan is likely to be the favourite having won 9 of his 15 starts. In November 2011 he won a Gr.1 at Churchill Downs (Dirt) and this year he won a Gr.3 at Keenland (Polytrack) by over 10 lengths, on his most recent start at Saratoga (Turf) last month he won a Gr.2 by 5 lengths in a very fast time. Due to the conditions of the race Cityscape is due to give him 3lb as he hasn't won a Gr.1 this year. Both Timeform and the Racing Post Ratings rate them the same so no walk in the park for us I suspect.

A busy weekend, which resulted in most of the horses running extremely well with Mince being the star of the show. She really has developed into a very exciting young sprinter and I will take a little time before deciding where she will run next. Priceless Jewel found the ground too quick for her and she did not really let herself down on the ground. Tioman Legend was a bit disappointing, but most of the horses that ran well in the sprints raced prominently.
Our only runner today is Supreme Quest who returns to Bath for the 3.20 pm. She seems to be well drawn but may not be suited by such a big field, but at least she should have fast ground.

Supreme Quest