Dark Red
Goodwood is now upon us and with the Goodwood Cup now on the first day of the meeting it looks an excellent card. The ground has dried out and will be close to perfect good ground and with heavy rain forecast tomorrow the connections of Big Orange will be very happy the race was moved to the opening day.
His task has got easier with Dal Harraild coming out of the race along with Simple Verse but some worthy opponents stand between himself and a third Goodwood Cup such as last year’s second Pallisator, Sheikhzayedroad and the improving three year old Stradivarius as well as the talented but quirky US Army Ranger. The Vintage Stakes looks very intriguing with four unbeaten colts in the line-up and the winner will have his Owner or Owners dreaming of Classic glory next year. The Lennox Stakes looks very competitive and sees Limato stepping up in trip after his fine second in the July Cup recently. I will be playing cricket after racing for the Lord March Racing XI who I am Captaining against The Lord’s Taverners and I am looking forward to what is always a fun match.
Qaaraat was third yesterday on his return from a break at Wolverhampton. There was very little separating the principals and he ran ok but did not quicken as well as I hoped. We will keep our options open but if we cannot find a weak Novice or Maiden then we may try him in Nursery company.
We run Dark Red and Al Nafoorah at Goodwood today. Dark Red backs up quickly having run a good third at Newmarket on Saturday. He seems fresh and well and the race does not seem to have taken too much out of him so we are going to take our chance. We would have ideally wanted the ground to be a little softer for him but there should still be some moisture in the ground. He is well drawn in stall two but it is a red hot handicap and he will need to step forward from Saturday to figure here. Khairaat disappointed at Royal Ascot but looked like a horse to follow on his previous start and UAE Prince ran well when fourth in the John Smiths Cup. Garcia was eye catching when just behind him and my old charge Oasis Fantasy was second in this race last year, he has some headgear on and the track suits him, he has now fallen to a good mark and could run a big race on good ground.
Al Nafoorah has been a star this season, she tries very hard and has won for us twice. This is a big step up for her as the 1m fillies’ handicap is full of lightly raced progressive types. We will have to drop her in from stall 12 and hope we can get some luck in running, ideally we may have wanted the ground a little softer but good ground should not prove to be a problem. I hope they go a good pace and given how she keeps progressing I hope she runs well. Tribute Act appeared to have more in the locker when winning last time and Pretty Asset has only run the once when winning her Maiden. Sayem heads here look for a hat-trick and she looks to be an improving filly.