Michael's Mount
It was a fantastic 2016 Open Day here in Newmarket and we had a lot of people through the gates here at La Grange. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves including the horses who were very happy to get attention from visitors. We held three demonstrations of our water treadmill in action as well as having farrier and veterinary displays and many people tried on the colours. The traditional weigh the hack competition was held with a twist as Gavin one of the Assistants was onboard. The final weight was 724kgs and there were three contestants on 725kg but Marie’s name was drawn out of the hat and she won a bottle of champagne. The sun broke through in the afternoon and the Stable Lads defeated the Trainers and Jockeys at five a side football despite the valiant efforts of Charlie Fellowes in goal. The National Stud won the Tug of War and then the piece de resistance arrived as the Trainers and Jockeys Show Jumping took place. There was much fun and games as the riders tried to negotiate the course and most had trouble with the joker but the best arrived last and Hayley Turner went into the lead with a clear round before Pat Cosgrave came into the ring last and beat her time by four seconds to claim the trophy. After a Stewards Enquiry into the apparent improved performance of Pat Cosgrave between the practise session and the main event, the Stewards found it to be down to a change of mount and no further action was taken!
We had four runners on Saturday and Tibr provided us with a winner up at Catterick, he won as he was entitled to but it was good to see him win well and it will hopefully have boosted his confidence. Global Applause ran well in the Mill Reef when third and we will give him a much deserved Winter break now. Scrutinise had an off day in the 1m2f handicap and never got into the race whilst AlEmeratalyoum shaped with promise in the concluding 7f Maiden and just failed to finish his race off.
All efforts are focused on Kempton today and Carol runs first for us in the 3:10. I am hoping this slower surface will suit her and whilst the drop back to 7f is a worry she is drawn ideally in stall one and broke well at Ascot when running well in second. It looks like a warm race but there are no easy races in Maiden or Nursery company currently and I hope she can acquit herself well. Instigation runs in the second division at 3:40 and this race looks like it could be warmer than Carol’s race, she was too keen on her first start and I am hoping she can settle better today and finish off her race.
Michael’s Mount tackles the twelve furlong handicap at 4:10 and he would look to hold a good chance if he can reproduce the form of his last run. The race turned into a sprint when he disappointed here previously and that run can be ignored, Unsuspected Girl runs here from out of the weights but cannot be ignored given she is in such good form. His Kyllachy disappointed at Beverley last time but the Haggas team are red hot at the moment and he cannot be ignored.
Alqubbah runs in the competitive 6f handicap at 4:40, she is a filly with a lot of ability who gained Black Type earlier in the year. We gave her a break after she disappointed at York and whilst she has had a good break, she did run very well on her seasonal debut.