Another beautiful day here at HQ. The ground is good/good to firm in places and it will be drying out all the time. York is drying back too and it should be very close to good ground up at the Knavesmire today. Enable was extremely impressive once more in the Yorkshire Oaks and given how tactically versatile she is, it looks very difficult to find a horse that can give her something to think about come the Arc.
Qaaraat travelled well again yesterday but failed to pick up and finished third at Chepstow. Sparte Quercus showed plenty of speed and possibly did too much early on, he ran well for a long way and faded late on to finish third. We will drop him back to ten furlongs next time. Wealth Tax ran respectably up at Hamilton but he could never really land a blow in what was a competitive affair.
We run four horses today. Amazing Red is our only runner up at York in the one and a half mile handicap. He came back to form last time and if he can improve again on this better ground today then he has each way claims. The likely favourite has come out which makes it easier but the market is now headed by two solid types or are proven at this level in Appeared and Red Galileo. Londinium proved himself to be an improving type at Goodwood but he did run twice in a week whilst Al Neksh has an excellent chance on his penultimate run but he did bleed last time. Fidaawy is another horse who remains with potential and it is a very interesting handicap to start off day three of the meeting. Our horses remains quite unexposed, I believe the track will suit him and he is in good form at home.
Faay is our first runner at Newmarket in what is likely to be a strong 7f Fillies’ Novice. The first three in the market all shaped with promise on their debuts and it is very much a first day at school for our filly today. Like all of my two year-olds, she will improve for this experience and I hope she shows us some potential for the future.
Weloof has been disappointing since his Maiden win and we have put some blinkers on him for the first time today. He has the potential to be competitive off of this mark if they sharpen him up, the trip and ground should suit him perfectly.
Agar’s Plough is another two year old debutant and he runs in the 15:15 7f Novice. He looks a nice type who will be very much a horse for the future. He is drawn right against the far-rail which is not ideal and I hope he can break on terms and run a pleasing first race. Al Hajar was an unlucky loser on his debut and shaped with a deal of promise, he will be very hard to beat. Al Barg showed a fair level of ability when winning last time and Ode To Autumn did his best work late when finishing second at Salisbury, the track should suit him. It promises to be an informative Maiden.