Good morning from Newmarket. We are still basking in the glow of yesterday's fabulous victory for Amazing Red in the Listed Copa De Oro Stakes in San Sebastian, but more on that later in the day! Domestically we have a pair of runners at Newmarket this evening, kicking off with the two-year-old debutant Take Me To The Sky in the seven-furlong novice auction at 5.15.
A son of Tamayuz out of an unraced Cape Cross mare, this colt was picked up relatively cheaply at Tattersalls Book 2 last year, which allows him to qualify for these novice auction events. Despite those humble origins, he has shown a bit of promise in his work from fairly early on in the year, and hopefully has a decent future ahead of him. He will inevitably improve for the outing today, as my juveniles always do, but it would be nice to think he can show some encouragement nonetheless. Jamie Spencer will be in the saddle.
Later on the card, in the mile and a quarter 0-75 handicap at 7.20, the Mukhadram three-year-old Maqaadeer bids to get back on track after disappointing bitterly at Beverley last time out. He had benefitted from a step back up to a mile and a quarter when winning at Nottingham on his previous start, but showed absolutely nothing at Beverley and ultimately trailed home a long last.
Nothing obvious came to light to explain that performance, but it could be that the track did not suit, whilst a return to better ground this evening is sure to benefit. So we are definitely hoping for an improved performance this time around, but we must acknowledge that he won a relatively modest race at Nottingham and probably does not have much up his sleeve from the handicapper. He is a big, strong and good-looking type, so hopefully we have not seen the best of him, but he needs to pull out a little bit more to win this competitive contest . Louis Steward does the steering.
Best wishes,
Ed.