Thistle Bird took her place in the line up for the Celebration Mile Group 2 after a considerable amount of debate about the ground being possibly too soft.  Most of the runners were looking for faster ground but in the end there was only one non runner.  Thistle Bird ran a marvellous race to be beaten by George Baker on Premio Loco in the final 100 yards.  She has improved with every race so far this season and I hope to find her an opportunity to win a Group race by the end of the year.

Primevere also ran a very courageous race making all to be narrowly denied on the line by a nose.  Hayley Turner gave her a great ride and the race was run in an appalling downpour of heavy rain.  Like Thistle Bird she deserves to win a Group race over 9 or 10 furlongs.  There are a couple of possibilities in Ireland in September. 

Trader Jack completed a treble of 2nd placings for our runners over the weekend when he was beaten 1/2 a length in The Greene King Handicap at Goodwood this afternoon.  He would have been better suited to a faster pace but he continues to look progressive either over 10 or 12 furlongs.

Silver Lime (USA) was slightly inconvenienced by the ground and perhaps as I suspected the handicapper had over reacted to his Goodwood race.  There seems to be less and less opportunities for horses rated in the 80s or 90s compared to those rated below 70.

Bated Breath under the circumstances ran another good race and he was the first horse home of those drawn high and for some reason the race seemed to favour the low numbers.  Spirit Quartz finished second and on two previous occasions this year over 5f Bated Breath had beaten him 3 3/4 lengths.  As long as Bated Breath remains in good shape he will be aimed at the Haydock Betfred Sprint Cup in two weeks where I hope we will see the return of fast ground.

Derwent (USA) ran well at Ffos Las but he probably was not aided by the soft ground as much as the winner was. 

Today we have two four year old fillies both running in Group races. 

Thistle Bird goes to Goodwood for the Celebration Mile which is a big step up in class having won two listed races.  She did run well in a handicap at Goodwood last year, but I get the impression that fast ground suits her better than soft.

Thistle Bird

At Windsor Primevere (IRE) runs in the Winter Hill stakes at 6.45pm over 10 furlongs.  She failed to stay the trip of 12 furlongs in the Lancashire Oaks last time, but she is fresh and in good form.

 

Primevere (IRE)

 

Selfara missed the break last night but she was brave and tough and managed to get up to win dispite hanging to the right.  Six Furlongs might suit her again in the future but she deserves a few weeks off before running again. 

Another big day at York ahead of us with Silver Lime (USA) running in the first race.  I thought that the Handicapper was pretty harsh to raise his rating by 9lbs after his win at Goodwood.  Today he runs against older horses for the first time and with a wide draw his task will not be an easy one. Also any further rain would not be in his favour.

Silver Lime (USA)

Bated Breath is in terrific form, fit and ready to go having not run since his valiant second in the Kings Stand Stakes. I am desperately hoping that the rain keeps away but unfortunately  there is a forcast of more to come before his race at 3.40pm.  I am happy with his draw as there is plenty of pace around him and he surely deserves to win his first Group 1.

Bated Breath

 

At Ffos Las Derwent (USA)  runs in the first race, he is in good form, but he may not be helped if the ground becomes softer.

Derwent (USA)

Priceless Jewel has had a frustrating time recently trying to find ground that is not either too fast or too soft!  There seem to be very few opportunities to run her and I will decide having watched Derwent's race whether the ground is suitable

Priceless Jewel

 

 

A terrific result with Dundonnell (USA) winning the Acomb stakes at York yesterday which was generously sponsored by Pinsent Masons LLP.  He took the preliminaries well which was not easy for such a young horse in front of a huge 'Frankel' crowd.  He is likely to be aimed at the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket on September 29th. 

Rex Imperator was perhaps an unlucky loser in the Symphony Group Stakes having been denied any daylight throughout most of the race and Zero Money (IRE) ran well until being outpaced in the last hundred yards.

Selfara is our only runner today in the last race at Folkestone this evening.  The handicapper who is not always right decided that she should be raised 12lb's for her last victory at Nottingham recently and she runs this evening with a 6lb penalty.  Lets hope he is right and that she can win again!

Selfara

Cactus Valley had every chance but he failed to pick up in the closing stages to finish third and he seemed to lack concentration, a visor might help him in the future.

Off to York today with I hope what will be three good chances. 

In the first race both Rex Imperator and Zero Money (IRE) compete.  It is yet another tight and competitive sprint with Rex Imperator drawn high and Zero Money (IRE) up with the pace in stall 6.  Rex Imperator should be suited by dropping down in distance having ran too freely over 6 furlongs at Newmarket.  I would have preferred a bit more cover as being drawn on the outside can be difficult.  Zero Money (IRE) is pretty consistent and he is suited by fast ground.

Rex Imperator

Zero Money (IRE)

Dundonnell (USA)  is raised in class and runs against a competitive group of two year olds in the Acomb Stakes at  2.30pm.  He is a big and impressive looking two year old, with an action that suggest he will be suited by fast ground and he is our most promising two year old prospect at this stage.

Dundonnell (USA)

Supreme Quest had the fast ground that she needed, but she was not quite good enough against several very speedy 3 year olds and I hope the handicapper will allow her a few pounds.

Cactus Valley (IRE) spends a lot of his life squealing and misbehaving while out at exercise and would appear to have got over his last race.  I hope he will have a good chance today in the 7.30pm at Warwick this evening, to follow up on his victory at Sandown.

 

Cactus Valley (IRE)

 

 

Sea of Heartbreak ran another game race against a field that contained some of the best turf fillies in the world at that distance.  On her rating she probably had 5 lengths to find and there maybe races for her in America or Canada where competition may not be so strong.  In the meantime she needs to drop back to a Group 2 level, but at least she is demonstrating her consistency again.

It was a  great thrill after my return from Deauville to be able to watch Mince put up another stunning performance.  She has really continued her improvement in great style and she will surely be winning Group races next year.

Supreme Quest is our only runner today, to run in the 8pm at Windsor.  The ground should suit her, but is a tough little race and I hope she will run better than she did last time at Bath.

Supreme Quest

Abated unfortunately didn't see much daylight and she had little chance of getting into the race having been held up in a slow run race.  Greenery ran well and maybe suited to dropping back to 5 furlongs having showed plenty of speed.  Valiant Girl had a wretched race and would surely have won granted a bit more luck in running.  At Doncaster Stir Trader ran up to his best form but unfortunately wasn't good enough to beat the winner and he has now finished 2nd on each of his three starts.  At Newmarket Tioman Legend was a little bit disappointing and he was perhaps not drawn on the favourable side and never really got into the race.

Mince sunbathing!

Mince went up to Doncaster with Stir Trader and  she has now travelled onto Pontefract for the 6 furlong Listed fillies race at 3.45.  She is re-united with Frankie Dettori who won on her at Newmarket in May but she is not blessed with a favourable draw in stall 11.  She seems to be in good form at home and it would be a real bonus for Waddesden Stud should she be lucky enough to win.  At present her owner, Lady Rothschild is experiencing a seriously hot streak having had a double on Friday!

Sea of Heartbreak is a seasoned traveller and has settled into Deauville life, eating and drinkng well.  The ground should suit her and there should be plenty of pace in the race but yet again she will need to lift her game to get into the first four.  She is very tough and consistent and having won a Group 2 last year in France she needs to play at this level.

I was pleased with So Beloved's debut race, he travelled well and got tired in the final furlong.  He has a nice attitude and should develop into a good 3 year old.

Pythagorean was a little free for the first furlong, but James got him settled at the back of the field before making a forward move.  He was narrowly beaten and he would be better suited to some more give in the ground as he has quite a high knee action.

Abated is under a bit of pressure from her brothers, Cityscape and Bated Breath, not to let the family down.  She is a sweet filly with a good attitude and I hope she runs well in the first of the filly's maiden races at Newbury.

Abated

Greenery (IRE) is a strong and tough filly by Green Desert from a speedy family.  She should be suited by the fast ground and will benefit from the experience.

Greenery (IRE)

Valiant Girl was too free in her last race at Newbury over 9 furlongs. but she should be suited by today's going and trip so I hope we will see a better performance from her in the 4.55pm at Newbury.

Valiant Girl

Tioman Legend is now our only runner at Newmarket as I have withdrawn Priceless Jewel due to the fast ground.  He ran a great race at Goodwood a fortnight ago over 5 furlongs to finish 3rd.  He was a bit outpaced but stayed on well when he met the rising ground and he should be suited by returning to 6 furlongs.  James Doyle will switch from Priceless Jewel onto him.

Tioman Legend

Stir Trader left early this morning to travel to Doncaster where he runs in the 2.40pm, a three year old maiden race.  I hope he will have improved for his first run at Salisbury recently and his form has been boasted by Saloomy winning again.  I hope that he is capable of finishing in the first three.

Stir Trader

Sakhee's Rose behaved really well and ran an encouraging race to finish 5th. 

Tantamount on the other hand was very disappointing and for no apparent reason hung right in the straight and he was virtually pulled up.

We run two nice colts for Juddmonte Farms at Newbury this afternoon.  So Beloved now measures 16.2hh which means he would be one of the biggest two year olds in the country.  He is a good mover and a half brother to Deportivo, who was a good sprinter.  His work has been promising, but there should be plenty of improvement to come.

So Beloved

Pythagorean ran a race full of promise in very heavy ground at Newbury last month and his form has worked out well.  He runs in the second division and  takes on several other very promising colts, but I hope he will run well.

Pythagorean