Chestnut Storm
An overcast morning here at HQ but we have not had any significant rainfall and there is a strong wind. The horses were all fresh and well out at exercise this morning. We have supplemented Red Verdon for the Grand Prix De Paris this morning, he came out of his run at The Curragh extremely well and has been showing us all the right signs at home. It is a competitive field as you would imagine and he could encounter the fastest ground he has run on this year but the ground has been well watered and the forecast is for temperatures to cool as the week progresses, we hope he will run a big race and he is joint top rated.
Many of the team were out on the sports field yesterday and took part in the resurrected Stable Staff sports day which came back into the calendar last year after an absence. It was well attended with just under 200 entrants and we claimed three victories in the Ladies 100m where we had the first and second, the Mens 400m and the 4x100 mixed Relay. It unfortunately clashes with the Summer Party which was on Saturday night but everyone tried very hard despite many having sore heads! The party went very well, there was a lot of interesting dance moves and nearly everyone had a turn on the Bucking Bronco.
Manjaam was very tough when winning the valuable three year old twelve furlong handicap at Ascot on Saturday, he tried very hard and kept finding for pressure. It is always a good race and a good pointer to the future and I hope he will improve again from here. Pantera Negra ran a solid race when finishing third in the seven furlong Maiden Auction, the ground may have been slightly fast for her but she saw her race out well and the first two seemed like nice types. Oasis Fantasy ran very well in the John Smith’s Cup given how slow they went in the early stages of the race and the trip was on the short side for him, he stayed on to finish eighth. Carol ran with promise when finishing fifth at Newmarket in the 7f Fillies’ Maiden, the first two look like very nice fillies.
We have two runners today at Chelmsford and Wolverhampton. Makman has had a break to freshen him up after he ran at the Craven meeting and he seems well at home. It is a hot little race and I hope he can settle better than last time and finish off his race well. Chestnut Storm runs in the 6:40 at Wolverhampton and she would appear to have a decent chance. She was slowly away last time but finished off her race well to finish third and this step up in trip should suit her. Sixties Idol showed a little more on soft ground last time and Miss Marina Bay sports first time headgear and may improve for that but we look to have the most solid last time out form on offer.
Andy Murray played extremely well yesterday to win the Wimbledon Final in straight sets and he played very well when it mattered to win two tie breaks. It is sad to read that he may not play in the Davis Cup but it is understandable given that the tie is in Serbia on clay just before the hardcourt season starts. Portugal appeared to play better once Ronaldo went off injured in the European Cup Final and whilst it was not a great game for the neutral they pulled off an upset when beating the French in extra time. It was not the most memorable Euros for various reasons and having a team win it who only won once in ninety minutes during the whole tournament was quite fitting.