Good afternoon from Newmarket. I walked the Rowley Mile this morning, and decided that conditions were suitable enough to declare Red Verdon and Global Warning for their respective races on 2,000 Guineas day. That said, we will be monitoring the weather very closely between now and then, particularly with regards to the three-year-old.
We have quite a few runners before we get to the weekend though, including three today.
In the 4.35 at Redcar Maqaadeer takes his chance in the mile and a quarter 0-75 handicap. This horse has disappointed us somewhat, and we hoped he might be off the mark by now. Having said that, his two maiden efforts last year were in very warm company, and he returned to action with a fair second at Lingfield in March. His run at Chelmsford two weeks later was less inspiring, but it did tell us that he wanted a step up in trip and slightly more galloping track.
Well he gets those ingredients today, plus a pair of blinkers in order to try and unearth some improvement. A big gross horse, he has probably improved again physically for his first two outings, and he is in at an appropriate level this afternoon. This is probably his best opportunity he has had thus far to get his head in front, so now it is over to Maqaadeer to see if he can deliver. It is a competitive race of course, but hopefully he will give a good account. Dane O’Neill takes the mount.
In the 5.45 at Chelmsford we run the Fast Company filly Star’s Daughter. She is very small at around 350kgs and, although there are only three opponents, this looks to be a very warm contest. So we are up against it, but she has shown a pleasing attitude in her work and hopefully we will see some encouragement. Jamie Spencer will be in the saddle.
Later on in the Listed Chelmer Fillies Stakes at 7.25, Roxy Art has her second attempt of the year at grabbing some black-type. She was a useful two-year-old, winning impressively over this course and distance, and going down only narrowly to smart fillies such as Star Terms and Fashion's Star in subsequent efforts.
Placing her early on this season has been difficult, and we looked at various options ranging from the Italian Guineas to the Athasi Stakes in Ireland. However, we settled on the Fred Darling as a starting point, as the ground at Newbury was likely to be safe on a fair track. She ran respectably in the end to finish tenth, confirming that she has not progressed enormously over the winter but hinting that she has retained most if not all of her ability. We now step back a furlong and onto the AW, both elements which I hope will suit.
All the main protagonists have turned up here, all hoping to get some black-type, and we have to accept we are outsiders in a competitive race. However, from a reasonable draw in stall 7, I would like to think we will see her step forward from her Newbury effort. Richard Kingscote rides.
All the best,
Ed.