Dark Red
It is very blustery in HQ and after a very busy morning I have headed to York. We worked a lot of the horses on the Al Bahathri during first and second lots and I was very pleased with how they are progressing. There is fantastic racing today both at Sandown and York and there is also good racing at Chester.
Trip To Paris finished fourth in The Lonsdale Cup at York yesterday and he was below his best but I was not too disheartened. The main thing is that he is safe and sound this morning and has come out of the race well. I think he may have been slightly race rusty still given it was his second run off of a long layoff. We shall let him get over this run and then target one of the big staying races in September, I am still confident we can get him back to his best.
We have five runners today with Apex King, Oasis Fantasy and Scrutinise running at Sandown and Dark Red and Global Applause running at York. Apex King has won his last two starts and is very tough and will stay the stiff seven furlongs well. The rain this morning will have helped his chances and although he will want further in time I expect him to acquit himself well this afternoon. The first five were only covered by a length at Ascot but he did have to race wide on his own and is the type of horse who will improve with racing. It does looks a very strong renewal of the Solario with Eqtiraan, South Seas and Seniority impressing in their Maidens, Eqtiraan had his form franked yesterday at York. Majoris was very impressive in a Newmarket Nursery and Van Der Decken was fifth in the Coventry. Monticello was right behind us at Ascot and Repton was fifth in the Vintage. It is a race to look forward to and Total Star must also be well thought of to be put in here after his Beverley win.
Oasis Fantasy and Scrutinise both run in the 3:40 at Sandown. The two of them have been running well over this ten furlong trip but have both gone up the weights for recent seconds. The five millimetres of rain this morning would suit Scrutinise more than Oasis Fantasy but both should act on ground which is close to good. Oasis Fantasy is weighted to reverse Goodwood form with Fire Fighting but he is a remarkably tough opponent and arguably could have gone up more for his latest Newmarket win. Master The World ran a good second behind Zonderland recently and is a classy individual whilst Baydar gets in off a featherweight of eight stone one and has a valuable three pounds taken off too. Goodwood Mirage is coming back into form and he also has a very light weight. It’s a very competitive race and both of the horses have a chance but we are vulnerable to a horse at the bottom of the weights.
Dark Red is a horse I have always thought a lot of and he started the season in fantastic form before disappointing at Epsom. His early season wins were on the all-weather or with cut in the ground but I do think he will be able to handle good ground. He has been pleasing me in his work at home and I hope he can continue the upward curve he was on before Epsom. It looks a competitive race but it has been made easier with the three withdrawals and I look forward to getting him back on the racecourse.
Global Applause is a horse I have always thought a lot of but he was too keen last time in the Molecomb with no cover. We have decided to experiment with six furlongs today and if we can get him to relax and harness the speed he possesses I am hoping he can run a big race. Blue Point still looked green when beaten by Mehmas at Goodwood and I would expect him to improve from that run. Mubtasim has looked very good on both of his starts and Mokarris came right back to his best when winning a Listed race latest. It is a strong renewal with many other good horses in the race.