It was a beautiful morning here at HQ before the cloud arrived and it is now warm but overcast although it is starting to clear once more. The horses are all well and headed up Warren Hill earlier. We continue to build them towards their intended targets and it was great to get a two year old winner at Sandown last night.
First Quest battled very well given it was only his second start when winning the mile maiden at Sandown last night. He really stuck his head out when he was joined and it was very encouraging performance. Chestnut Storm will have a break now as she has had three quick runs and she ran very flat.
We have two runners here this evening and Sparkle runs in the 6f Maiden at 5:35. She showed a lot of promise for the future at Newbury over 6f, her draw did not help her but she ran on well late in the race. There are some well-bred types in tonight’s contest and those that have run have all showed promise but she appears to have stepped forward for her debut and we are hopeful she can run well.
Shafafya did not stay twelve furlongs last time and ran into a nice type that stayed the trip very well, she shows us speed at home and so we have dropped her back to a mile tonight. She has some solid form at the trip earlier in the year. The Godolphin filly has a lot of smart entries and is clearly well regarded. She has had a year off and the form of her win has not worked out as only one winner has come out of the Kempton Maiden she won so she does have it to prove. Our filly would have an each way chance.
Pakistan have taken a lead in the cricket and we need to take their last five wickets quickly or it will be very difficult for us to claim a Series win. If we could get a lead of 200 plus after our second innings then anything could happen but that will require us bowling them out for less than 400.