Alternative Fact
It’s a beautiful day here in HQ and the long range forecast suggests some drier weather lies ahead. The horses are in good form and I hope that they can continue in good health until the end of the season.
Alemaratalyoum won for the third time this year yesterday and I was delighted with the way he settled in his race and then won with a little in hand. Global Exceed was unlucky when second in the 5f Nursery and if he had been drawn closer to the stands rail I feel he would have won. Dark Red was not beaten too far in the 1m2f handicap at Doncaster but the slow pace did not suit him and I feel that he needs a strong pace to be seen at his best.
We run six horses today at three meetings. Dagueneau runs at Doncaster in the 1m Maiden at 4:05. He is very much a horse who will improve with racing and it looks a hot race today, with a very well-bred Godolphin horse heading the market. Baasha and Global Style run at Sandown in the 1m Novice at 2:35. Baasha is another horse who is very much a work in progress and I am just hoping that he can show us some promise. Global Style has been drawn poorly in stall 14 and whilst he showed promise last time, he needs to step up if he is to trouble the principles here. Zaajer showed plenty of promise on debut and you would expect him to move forward from that run here whilst Cassini is another who could be above average and Crossed Baton looked promising at Newmarket when sixth behind Roaring Lion who looks very good.
Sparte Quercus runs in the last at Sandown and he looks to hold obvious claims. He is three pounds well in and we have secured the services of David Egan to take a further three pounds off of his back. The 1m2f trip at Sandown should be ideal and he seems in good form at home. This is a better race than the won he won with great authority at Chepstow and Casement is a very unexposed horse who has only had the three runs. He looks the sort who has plenty of improvement in him and has to be respected. Capton is tough and he rarely runs a bad race so he cannot be ignored and Zamperini has dropped right down the weights and he denied Scrutinise off of a mark eight pounds higher last year over course and distance.
We run Alternative Fact and Armum at Salisbury at their Twilight meeting. Alternative Fact ran a promising race on debut, he is a horse who has plenty of potential and whilst he will be better at three he looks to hold strong claims today. The softer ground is an unknown but I think he should handle it and the step up to a mile should be in his favour. Deyaarna showed plenty on debut and he is the obvious danger whilst Rashdan and Construct look the pick of the newcomers.
Armum was disappointing at Goodwood but she was far too free to post. We have done a lot of work on her at home trying to teach her to relax and she wears eye shields for the first time today. If she doesn’t use up her energy before the race I hope she will run a lot more respectably but it is a competitive Nursery with some promising fillies in opposition.