Hello from Newmarket! Freezing temperatures here, but I suspect it is a little warmer in Dubai where Dark Red tries to improve upon his seventh place finish on Carnival debut a fortnight ago.
There was a little bit of promise in the effort, as we were drawn badly and rather hung out wide for much of the contest. Dark Red threatened to make an effort on the turn for home and then got understandably tired having been a little keen. We kept the blinkers off on that occasion as he might well have over raced even more in them, but they are back on for today’s contest.
So there are grounds for expecting better from Red today. He should improve physically for the run, his jockey Chris Hayes will know him better than last time, and instead of being drawn very wide we are in berth 1 – which should allow us to ride a race.
The downside is that the opposition looks even tougher! There are too many dangers to mention, but the fact that Gr.1 winner Deauville (who was third in the Irish Champion as recently as September) is a 20/1 shot indicates just how stiff the task is at hand. We know Dark Red will give his all and hope for the best, but are under no illusions that we are up against it.
All the best,
Ed.