Manjaam
What a difference two weeks makes, having raced on heavy ground at The July Course back on the 25th June the prospect of a course record getting broken at the July meeting looked unlikely, even more so after a deluge of rain last week. The rain stopped and the showers missed and Alice Springs was very impressive when forging away to break the course record in The Falmouth, Coolmore can do little wrong at the moment. There was 3mm of rain put on the track overnight but we look like we will get drizzle if we get any rain at all and the ground will be fast again this afternoon.
The horses are all looking well and have appreciated the sunshine that has been out at times during this week. We have been able to introduce some two year olds this week and the July meeting is a fantastic place to allow them to learn about racing without having to travel far in a horsebox. Eleven horses were sold at the July Sales during the week and it was sad to see Inniscastle Lad go after he won three races for us this year, he will be a fun dual purpose horse for his new connections.
We have four runners today, starting with Pantera Negra at Ascot, she ran well on debut and finished her race off well. Her first run was on a softer surface but she is a good moving filly so the faster ground does not worry me unduly and they applied water to the track after racing. The race now looks easier with the morning favourite having been withdrawn but there will still be some nice newcomers to beat and the Hannon horse will improve from his first run. Manjaam runs in a red hot handicap at the Berkshire venue at 5:35 and if you took his form literally from Down Royal then he would have a big chance. Stellar Mass appeared to take a big step forward when running third in The Irish Derby but it was still a big run from Manjaam in Northern Ireland and he would have finished closer if he had got a run sooner. He loves the quicker ground and has progressed from run to run on it. Shabbah started the season five pounds inferior to Manjaam and is now three pounds below him having been very progressive in his three starts, the step up to a mile and a half could unlock further improvement. Dal Harraild won on very quick ground in the Gin Silver Cup and was impressive while Wave Reviews beat a subsequent winner when breaking his duck recently. It promises to be a very informative race.
Oasis Fantasy has headed to York to contest the extremely valuable John Smith’s Cup. The forecast looked ideal for him and then a band of rain has appeared that could change the conditions significantly, if the ground gets any softer than good it would start to be a worry, he has run respectably on good to soft at York when fourth in a valuable handicap but his very best form recently is on a sounder surface. He has a wide draw to contend with but three of the last four winners have been drawn high so that is not unsurmountable. Carol runs in the first here at Newmarket and she is a well bred daughter of Acclamation who will learn a lot from the experience, this is nearly always a very good maiden and there are some well related unraced fillies in opposition.
Andy Murray won very easily yesterday and has been in fantastic form over the last two weeks, it should be a very good Final tomorrow but he will have the benefit of being fresher than Raonis who took five sets to beat Federer.