Zarwaan being loaded onto the box this morning.
Light rain this morning but nothing too severe – certainly not weather to dampen our enthusiasm as the Flat season returns with a bang!
We are set for the most superb exhibition of our sport this afternoon with three high-class domestic meetings and an outstanding card at Meydan. Spirits are high here and this is what it is all about – if you can’t get excited about today then a doctor might need to check for a pulse!
Only one group of workers this morning as Mubaraza, Scrutinise and Tocororo completed an easy mile, which went well. Lady Derby was here third lot to see Girl With A Pearl and Debby was given some respite with porridge the order of the day.
No entries today, but that’s not to say we weren’t tempted by Musselburgh. Hats off to management up there for putting on an excellent card with super prize money – they deserve a strong turnout for their endeavours.
Clarentine ran an excellent race to finish second at Lingfield yesterday. While we were disappointed she could not get off the mark, she travelled well for a long way before picking up nicely having been forced wide around the bend. We might have finished a little closer to the winner with a smoother passage, but there is no doubt that the best horse won and Maybelater looks an exciting prospect.
I’m making the journey northwards to Doncaster today as we saddle Zarwaan in the Lincoln. It’s a fiercely competitive race as always, but our horse has the right profile as an unexposed four-year-old and we have been thinking about this race for some time. The ground is right for him, the draw is seemingly a positive, and while opponents like GM Hopkins and Mange All are formidable, our fella is in good order and we are as confident as we can be.
Mrs Dunlop is holding the fort at Kempton where Red Galileo runs in the Magnolia, although we will struggle to beat Romsdal on all known evidence. Trip To Paris runs in the Rosebery, which is hot, but he’s been on good terms with himself of late. Five members of the La Grange Partnership, who own Trip, are making the journey down so let’s hope he gives them something to cheer about!
Head Lad Nik takes the reigns at Kempton where Red Avenger boasts decent claims in the 1m2f handicap. We’re pleased to have secured Cam Hardie, whose 3lb claim makes us look reasonably handicapped, and if he gets a gallop to aim at he should be on the premises.
The surface remains an unknown, though, despite his encouraging run at Lingfield last time. I was at Chelmsford on Thursday and the track is still riding very deep, making it hard work for all concerned. The re-waxing can’t come quick enough from my perspective.
I’ll be back at Doncaster tomorrow to oversee our three runners. The unraced pairing of Dark Red and Mulhaam run in division one and two of the maiden respectively and who knows how good they are or, indeed, how good our opponents are?
Island Remede also runs in the Doncaster Shield. The more rain the better for her and this is the right starting point, although she will probably strip fitter for the run.
Congratulations to the connections of European import Hartnell, who won the BMW at Rosehill this morning to secure successive Group 1 wins. Godolphin have enjoyed some winter in Australia.
Finally, talking of Australia, I hope cricket fans enjoy the World Cup final tomorrow, which is fittingly between the two best one-day sides around. The fact it’s taken us six weeks to reach a largely predictable final should not detract from what promises to be a superb spectacle.
Have a fantastic weekend all! Back Monday. Ed.