Newbury Saturday 26^th October 2013

The ground was very heavy and the times confirmed it was some of the worst of the season.

The maiden fillies race has produced Secret Gesture and Shirocco Star in the last couple of years. Cinnilla went off the 4/1 favorite but never showed. She is stoutly bred and should shine next term.

Lady Thyne waltzed away with the second division and a tall workmanlike sort, she should train on. Acclio was not persevered with when she could not win. She only gets a mark of 73 and this lengthy type is one to note in a Nursery.

Piping Rock had cruised in when returning from a lay off at Salisbury and showed the benefit of that run by winning in style here. He has a good action and should not be written off on faster going next spring. Although not as big as the favorite – Galiway, he has a deal of quality and it will be fascinating to report on his progress next April. Galiway has plenty of scope and will improve for this run. He seems a contender and has the breeding to back up his physique. He is a boisterous sort rather than a fractious type and his messing around beforehand is nothing to worry about.

Nicholls Canyon has progressed during the year and was in good nick. The filly Cocktail Queen has done particularly well and was in great shape for her first run in five months. Her dam – Premier Prize raced as a 5 year old and was Pattern class. I expect Cocktail Queen to stay in training and do well.

The Radley Stakes was a modest affair with the 85 rated Aqlaam Vision getting up close home. Ligeia pulled to post and in the race and was never going to get home over seven furlongs, especially on this ground. She could be worth noting dropped back in trip.

Newmarket Future Champions Day 12th October

Jockeys reported the ground to be on the soft side of good, though the times were barely slower than the previous week when the ground was reported fast. The wind was minimal and should not have affected the times of the races. Unusual.

In the Challenge Stakes Trumpet Major looked in great nick. He has had a wind op and had been off for 91 days and also had a 4lb penalty.

Great White Eagle looked the part for the Middle Park but never fired. He is a good mover and should be given a chance to atone. The winner Astaire had done well as had the third – Hot Streak who was well in his coat despite being fresh in the paddock. A couple had gone in their coats including Sudirman and Supplicant.

War Command was the clear choice in a poor renewal for the Dewhurst. He has excellent conformation but might still need a motor to go with it. At the moment I would hold fire for the Guineas and much will depend on the progress he makes in the next 6 months. A lot can happen in that time and there is no point trying to crystal ball the game. I had expected Cable Bay to come on for his Somerville Stakes showing at HQ 16 days before, but he was in a stew and had run up light. He belied his state with a solid run. Stormardal had done well but blew his handicap mark. Outstrip had gone in his coat and looked poor.

Tiger Cliff looked supreme for the Ces but was given a hapless ride by Queally who was in front miles too soon. He should step up to pattern class no problem next term.

I do not know what happened to Lightning Strike but she stayed on having appeared to be tailing off at one stage. Strange! Valonia had a thick winter coat on the way and had been trace clipped and was dull. Forget this run. Al Thakira is a handy well made sort and looked well. She endorsed Dubawi’s fine season as a stallion.

I mentioned in my last Blog that Oklahoma City seemed likely to prove best short of a mile and he was trounced in the last furlong of the 8f Autumn Stakes. Kingston Hill was very backward at Newbury despite winning and had come on a ton for the run. God Willing was still not fully fit last time and he was in good nick for a respectable effort. Truth or Dare was preferred of the Hannon pair and Mount Logan looked tucked up and pulled to post.

Chapter Seven is still going the right way and can improve again.

Newmarket 5^th October 2013

Good weather and fast ground with a minimal tail wind.

In the £300k Tattersalls Fillies there was not much to choose between Wedding Ring, Night Song and Zawiyah. Experience held the call with the former taking the spoils. Night Song was never in the hunt. Zawiyah is sprint bred and could be one to note in fillies events next year. In July, I marked Manderley down for a nursery and she blew a handicap mark of 76 in finishing second. Mind you, she did cop £66k in place money which looks the better of the bargain. She was going in her coat but was otherwise fine.

Oklahoma City took the £500k colt’s version and he was well suited by the drop back in trip, having contested the one mile Beresford Stakes just 6 days before. He is a strong stocky sort and more of a sprinter than a miler. Extremity had done well but failed to show. Currently 82 he should not go up much. Postponed impressed me at the July Meeting and he looked much more a racehorse with the puppy fat off. He now looks more like his sire Dubawi and should make a nice 3yo. Again, he blew a mark of 85 but did cop £110k in the process

The horses for the 8f maiden contained plenty of backward types. Three that will come on hugely for the run include the Galileo colt– Battersea trained by Roger Varian; he is a half brother to Gitano Hernando who won the big Group One at Kranji Singapore. Battersea looks sure to figure in middle distance events next term. Dance of Heroes – trained by Jeremy Noseda is a Danehill Dancer out of Helena Moloney who was placed in a 11f Listed race for John Oxx. Middle distances beckon for the youth. Protected, trained by Richard Hannon was possibly the most backward of the lot and is a good sort.