Shafafya
There were scattered showers overnight and a lot of rain hit some of the outlying parts of the Newmarket area but we only had half a millimetre here at La Grange and there is still a good chance we will start the July meeting on decent ground, even allowing for some light showers on Monday and Wednesday next week. The sun has broken through at times this morning but it has mainly been breezy and overcast.
The horses are fresh and well and we took the majority of them to the Flat Gallop this morning on racecourse side, it was dead ground. Chris Kilroy came here earlier to see his filly Sparkle who is an unraced two year old daughter of Gemstone whose half-brother Bedrock won recently at Haydock. I have been amazed with how well Red Verdon has come out of The Irish Derby, he was extremely fresh and well this morning and we may well run him again in the near future.
We had two runners at Great Yarmouth yesterday and Ripper Street was green in the first division as I expected he would be, he jumped the path in the early stages of the race but I was pleased with how he finished off his race. Alligator showed more than he did at Kempton and I hope we can win a small race with him in the future.
Oceanus and Scrutinise run at Sandown today and Shafafya goes to Doncaster for a fillies’ handicap. Oceanus disappointed at Chester but he was drawn wide and could never get into the race, there was ease in the ground when he made his debut at Newbury and I am hoping that easier ground here and a stiff track will allow him to build on that debut promise. Scrutinise travelled well over 1m6f at Goodwood and did not appear to stay, we felt he needs one and a half miles or a stiff one mile two furlongs like he will get here. He has to carry the burden of ten stone which will not be easy but it would be fantastic to see him finishing off his race and I hope he can run well. Shafafya improved for the step up to ten furlongs when winning last time and the second has won since, The Sir Michael filly has to be respected as she is unexposed and despite the small field it is a trappy contest, I do hope she will improve again for the step up to twelve furlongs and run a big race, Paul Mulrennan won on her last time so he knows her well.