Having spent most of the summer waiting for it to rain, it is pretty unusual for Newmarket to have received even more rain than the Midlands and I do not suppose the ground is often genuinely soft on the July course in August. The two 2 year olds that run today, Lucy Liimelites in the fillies Division 1 and Sergeant Troy in the colts race are ready for their first outing but I would not normally choose to run them under the current conditions as they tend to have a tougher time and you do not always learn that much about them, both races look competitive so I am not expecting too much.

Significant Move has been off for a while and may well need his comeback but he should be more suited to Newmarket than he was on the all weather at Lingfield.  The ground is also an unknown dimension for him.

Avertor has been declared on many occasions but his owner/breeder John Deer and myself have stuck to the rule of not running unless the ground was genuinely good which has resulted in only one race since the Spring. He lacks experience and may well not be suited by very soft ground.  He is a gelding that is likely to remain in training next year so we have plenty of time to develop his potential.

As a Welshman It was very exciting to have another 2 year old winner at Ffos Las...Marlinka being the previous one.  The ground had taken a lot of rain in the last 24 hours but the going wasn't too bad as it's a very well drained track.  Steve Drowne was pleased with Monzante's performance although he was pulling himself up in front a bit, he should improve with more racing and I think be would be happier on faster going. Monzante was Juddmonte Farms first of hopefully many winners at Ffos Las...another record !

Embezzle has been a very slow learner and having missed the break he was rather left behind. I plan to run him again as soon as possible and hope that he gets the message soon...he still thinks that life at Beckhampton is a holiday camp.

We have two runners at Ffos Las this afternoon in the 2.20 pm race a mile maiden race for two year olds. Embezzle is a well bred gelding by Sadler's Wells, but to date I have not seen much promise from him but he is incredibly lazy and ready for a race which hopefully will get the penny dropping in his head.  Marzante ran a race full of promise at Salisbury and the winner has gone on to frank the form. He is a nice big gelding but running on the current very soft ground is an unknown dimension but I am hopeful that he will run a race of promise.

Just returning from Doncaster Sales having spent 2 days searching for the next superstars. The market seems to be holding up well and there was definitely some good value to be had. We managed to buy 2 colts and two fillies who will appear in video form together with their pedigree's on our horses for sale page in near future

The weather forecasters are nearly as bad a trainers getting it right, plenty of rain turning the ground at Salisbury soft so Skyrider was withdrawn.  The BBC weather map also suggested that Sandown would also get plenty of rain today but they missed out, so Avertor looks doubtful tomorrow as he needs ''a cut in the ground''.  I should of  double declared him at Bath on Saturday evening, a weaker race and 6 furlongs probably more suitable.  Unfortunately there is a big fine...I think £600 plus which is a bit over the top imo. The owners yet again paying for everything. I hope that one day his owner/breeder will be rewarded as he was with his close relations Patavellian and Avonbridge.

Skyrider has been running consistently well but unfortunately without winning and she remains a maiden. Ted Durcan who rode her last time suggested that she would stay a mile and a half but todays race seems to have a few "improvers" in it but lets hope she can win.

PROPONENT ran yet another sound race to be 3rd, staying on in another valuable and competitive handicap, he remains very consistant.  His next race is most likely to be the Cambridgeshire, a fast run 9 furlongs ought to suit him as long as the ground doesn't get too slow. He has all ready won an heritage handicap over course and distance. It's a very hard race to win unless you have an improving horse and the expression of needing a Group horse in a handicap, often applies to the Cambridgeshire, for example Blue Monday.

 

Proponent has been a wonderfully consistent horse who always tries hard but as a consequence  has always been fully assessed by the handicapper.  He ran particularly well in the Hunt Cup and again at Goodwood in the Totesport Mile but from a bad draw, he also met interference up the straight.  He is being ridden by Richard Hughes for the first time who in the past has ridden lots of good winners for me so lets hope we can collect another nice prize.

After a rather frustrating wait for the break in the weather we were able to work some of the more backward and immature 2 year olds on the 'trial grounds' this morning.  The going was perfect and it was great to see the young horses working in groups upsides over 6 furlongs, Steve Drowne rode a colt called Sergeant Troy for the first time who pleased him.  He should be ready to run shortly over 7 furlongs, he's by Aussie Rules (a first season sire) who won the French 2000 for Aiden O'Brian and he has made a good start getting plenty of winners.  I haven't spotted a 'star' yet but there a few that will improve and do well in 2011.  Some of  the fillies have exciting pedigrees including a Motivator half sister to the amazing Attraction called Federation....

LOVE MATCH  ran another consistant race to be beaten less than 2 lenghts.  The race was slowly run which didn't suit her style, but she's tough and earning her keep.  She is due to go the December Sales (breeding stock) at Newmarket and she will go with my recommendation as she by a great sire Danehill Dancer and she is very good looking, she also has a sweet temperament. Steve Drowne thought that she would win another race.