Michael's Mount
I am heading off to Keeneland for their September Yearling Sales today. I expect the market to be strong but hopefully I can find one or two nice horses. We worked some horses on the Limekilns today and the ground was beautiful. I am happy with how Red Verdon is coming along and I hope to have him back on the track soon.
Melodies ran a race full of promise in a decent looking fillies’ Maiden at Salisbury yesterday. She finished fourth but did her best work late and with normal improvement she should be winning soon. Opposition ran creditably in the 1m4f handicap and we will be stepping him up in trip next time. Chocolate Account showed us a glimmer of promise when fifth at Chelmsford.
We have four runners today at Haydock and Kempton. Michael’s Mount will love the soft ground up at Haydock and we thought he was worth a shot at a better race given how well he travels. I hope he will get a nice tow into the race and we will produce him as late as we can, he has each way claims. Don’t Give Up looks like a galloper and he is the most unexposed horse in the field but he does have to prove himself he genuine soft ground. Star Of Rory has some strong form and he will enjoy the soft ground whilst Zwayyan is another who has run well on soft ground both times he has tried it.
Zamjar is our first runner this evening at Kempton. He is stepping up to a mile for the first time and it is a step into the unknown but we felt it is worth a try given the way he has been shaping recently. Horses ridden with restraint have had a chance there recently and we hope he will stay the trip and be finishing his race off, if he does then it will open up more opportunities and his best form would give him a squeak. Wannabe Friends finally put it all together last time and he holds strong claims under a good Apprentice in what is a very open race.
Vision Clear makes his debut in the 6:20 and he has a wide draw in stall eleven. Roaring Lion was very impressive at Newmarket when he won and he will be very hard to beat whilst Eyecatcher lived up to his name at Wolverhampton and looks one to monitor for the future. Tabernas is well bred and La La Land is another who went into notebooks last time. Our horse looks to be very much one for the future and anything he does at two will be a bonus.
Manjaam returns to the all-weather this evening as he is ground dependent on the turf. We are hoping he can show us a little more than in recent starts but he has a bad draw in stall eleven and there are some lightly raced types in the race. Mountain Hunter could be a Pattern horse in the making and Arab Moon has displayed a potent turn of foot when he has got motoring on the all-weather. Western Duke would be an interesting outsider if he came back to his best form. I would like to see our horse show promise but realistically it looks tough and he would have to come right back to his best to get involved.