Otto makes friends with Michael's Mount
It was a bright and sunny morning at HQ when I left for The Curragh this morning. I would expect it to be hard work again this afternoon at The July Course and for the ground to be riding soft still. Robin rang me earlier and told me there had been half an hour of heavy rain in Ireland this morning so I would expect the ground to be on the easy side at The Curragh, we are just on our way to the track now.
Gabrielle ran well when second at Yarmouth yesterday on her first try at five furlongs, Jamie Spencer said the ground had dried out a lot there and we hope she will improve again on a softer surface over either five or six furlongs. Social Media was not suited by the sprint up the straight in the ten furlong fillies' maiden at Doncaster, she did show more promise than on her debut at Newcastle and will improve when she experiences more of a stamina test. Al Hamd was disappointing in the mile handicap at Newcastle but he was too keen in the first time visor. Sagely was in the process of running a respectable race in the ten furlong Listed Hoppings Stakes when she was squeezed up on the rail and was allowed to come home in her own time, thankfully she has shown no ill effects from the nasty experience.
Sagaciously runs in the ten furlongs Listed Fred Archer Stakes run at 2:45. She has form in the expected conditions over course and distance but has a lot to find on the ratings with the top rated horse Havana Beat and was behind the favourite Bateel at Goodwood. It would be fantastic if we could sneak some black type with her.
Red Verdon runs in The Irish Derby at 5:20 and by this evening we will know if we have a Group 1 horse or not. I hope there will be no excuses and there should be a good gallop given that Ebediyin is in the race to ensure a good pace for the favourite Harzand. The early morning rain will mean the ground is not an unknown for our horse even though it will help the favourite. We have a lot of ground to make up on Harzand and Idaho even taking into consideration our horse did not get a clear run in The Derby but we hope he can improve again, he is very well and everyone here at La Grange is very excited.