Shingwedzi
We had yet another early morning frost today although it had not gone deep enough into the ground to stop us working some horses on the grass. I was happy with how everything went and the two year olds are progressing, we just need some warmer weather to help them come to themselves.
I was delighted that Amazing Red won and I was even happier with the manner in which he did it. He settled nicely on the rail and took the gap when it opened without hesitation before really finding his stride and pulling away from the second in the closing stages. The manner of his victory suggested one and a half miles will not be a problem and Paul Mulrennan was impressed with him. We will now consider the options for him and run him in a race that will allow us to see if he is good enough to take up his loftier engagements. Cliff Face and Dora’s Field both ran in the concluding maiden at Wolverhampton, both of them were slowly out of the gates and found themselves at the rear of the field, there was no pace for the majority of the race and they were always struggling to make ground from the rear when it turned into a sprint.
We have four runners today, Girl With A Pearl has travelled up to Redcar, her third has been boosted since when the winner won again at Doncaster. The handicapper has dropped her a pound and I hope the slight step up in trip will help her too. Inniscastle Lad steps up in trip to ten furlongs with the blinkers reapplied, he showed us very little last time so we are hoping rather than expecting some improvement from him here. Harlestone Hopes has been a frustrating sort, looking like winning the last twice before not quite lasting home, I am hoping that taking some weight off his back today will help him. Shingwedzi runs tonight in the 7:30 at Chelmsford over thirteen furlongs, she is very relaxed at home and I am still learning about her as she has only recently arrived from South Africa so I look forward to seeing how she gets on tonight and then we can make more plans for her afterwards.
The racing at Ascot was very exciting and Wesley Ward has another speedball on his hands with Create A Dream who did just that in the 5f Conditions race but the second of David Evans Deningy looks a smart prospect having travelled so well before suffering interference and was very unlucky indeed. Mizzou saw out the two miles well in the Sagaro Stakes and will surely be aimed for the Gold Cup once more. Gifted Master was very impressive and whilst Washington DC failed to run his race, he is now a serious contender for Commonwealth Cup.