Sanam
An extremely busy day of racing for the team here at La Grange, with no less than eight runners spread across five different venues, and that is even with one non-runner! Fingers crossed for a productive afternoon and evening.
At Sandown we have been the afforded the opportunity by the handicapper to drop Alternative Fact in grade slightly. Having run most recently in the Gr.2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, he now steps down to a 0-100 3yo+ handicap. Despite the ease in grade, this is no easy spot. The betting is dominated by three last time out winners and we are taking on older horses for the first time. However, a mile and a quarter around Sandown might just be the ideal test for Alternative Fact at this stage, and he has probably run more promisingly than the finishing positions suggest on both his outings this season. Despite the competitive nature of the race, I am looking forward to seeing how this talented colt gets on at 4.05. Jamie Spencer will be riding for the first time.
Also at Sandown I unleash the debutant two-year-old Venedegar in the 3.00. A son of Dubawi out of the excellent broodmare Cara Fantasy, the offspring of which my family is so familiar with, he is a half-brother to the Craven winner Elusive Pimpernel, the Strensall winner Palavicini and a full-brother to my Listed Silver Tankard Stakes winner Prince Gagarin. Only one of our rivals today has previously run, but he displayed lots of promise, whilst the newcomers look typically choicely-bred. Not the easiest race to start off in, but I am looking forward to seeing how he gets on. Gerald Mosse is booked for the ride.
At Doncaster we run another newcomer, namely Jabalaly, in the 6.5F novice at 2.05 under Dane O’Neill. He is by the first season sire Moohajim, who has not exactly set the world alight with his early runners it must be said. Despite that, our youngster is a half-brother to the multiple Listed winner Tabarrak and the Listed-placed two-year-old debut winner The Wagon Wheel, so hopefully we will see an encouraging introduction.
We send three runners to Haydock this evening, headed by Global Art in the mile and a quarter 0-70 at 6.15. He showed promise on his only run last season, and then earned a mark of 72 before a step up in trip. He has been dropped a pound despite running a fair race when third at Ripon most recently and has been declared in cheek-pieces today to see if that might coax a little extra improvement. Gerald Mosse makes the trip to ride. In the 8.30 we saddle Qaaraat, a son of Acclamation who has disappointed somewhat this term. He has been gradually sliding down the weights as a result, so hopefully he can rediscover his best form from last season today under Dane O’Neill. Our final Haydock runner is Indian Warrior, in the five-furlong 0-70 at 9.05, and he will be ridden by Robert Havlin. A useful two-year-old that was unlucky not to get his head in front, his three-year-old campaign has been a little frustrating so far. He is up against an odds-on favourite that will be hard to beat, but, having dropped to a career low mark of 67, I am just looking for a step back in the right direction this evening.
We send one runner to Beverley, namely Global Exceed in the three-year-old 0-75 mile handicap at 7.45. Only six line up, though the favourite Delph Crescent will be hard to beat. Our horse won a couple of times last year, but it has been a mixed bag so far this year. His latest effort at Hamilton can be excused on account of the ground, and this looks his level, so granted a return to form this evening he could be competitive. We might be saving the best until last, as our final runner of the evening is Sanam in the mile and three-quarter handicap at Chelmsford at 9.15. A winner of his last two outings, this trip and track are fine for him and he hopefully remains competitively handicapped on a mark of 57. James Doyle is in the saddle and we hope for the best.
Best Wishes,
Ed.