A cheeky two-year-old.
Only minimal rainfall over the weekend and we have another overcast and relatively warm day today.
A routine cantering day for all four lots – we will work again tomorrow. Robert and Caroline Caddick, members of the Octopus Partnership who own Zauffaly, made their first visit to La Grange this morning – we hope to see them again soon.
A disappointing Saturday for the yard with all four of our runners performing below expectations. The ground was too lively for Island Remede, who travelled well for the most part but couldn’t go with them when the pace quickened, while fellow Goodwood performers – Red Avenger and Harlestone Hopes – ran well below what they are capable of without too many obvious excuses. Hopefully that was just a blip for both.
At Newmarket, Fieldsman pulled very hard early and paid for that late on upped to one mile for the first time – he will improve with that run under his belt.
Three declarations this morning with Trip To Paris and Mubaraza both Chester Cup bound. Both have been given awkward draws in 11 and 12, but it might not be a vintage renewal of the race and both have the form to get involved with a bit of luck in running. We will also run God Willing in the one mile handicap at Chelmsford.
We were scheduled to run Oasis Fantasy in the 1m4f handicap at Windsor this afternoon, but with the forecast rain having failed to materialise in the quantities predicted yesterday, we have pulled him out. We gave him a precautionary entry at Ascot on Saturday just in case and we will keep an eye on the weather with a view to running him there.
Zarwaan and Red Galileo were also given entries on that card, in the Victoria Cup and Buckhounds Stakes respectively, and the plan is to run both so long as the ground is suitable.
At Lingfield, Arethusa has been pencilled in for the Oaks Trial following her productive juvenile campaign. Together Forever, winner of the Fillies’ Mile, is the standout entry on paper, but otherwise it looks an open renewal.
We also made two entries for Haydock and two entries for Nottingham. Plans will become clearer later in the week.
Finally, I hope all of you enjoyed Guineas weekend whether you made the journey to Newmarket or watched on television elsewhere. Gleneagles turned in a super performance to win the 2,000 and it will take a good one to topple him over a mile this season, while the Derby market has changed shape significantly over the last few weeks – what wins is anybody’s guess!
Back tomorrow. Ed.