A foggy start to the day.
I’m told it’s warm and sunny in Newmarket following a foggy beginning – Mrs D arrived home shortly after lunch and I won’t be long in getting back myself.
We enjoyed an excellent weekend in Deauville and the Arqana catalogue was particularly strong this year. We purchased three lots – a filly by Makfi, a filly by Bated Breath and a filly from the first crop of Frankel out of Platonic. She is a half-sister to Pacifique, dam of the Dubawi colt who topped the sale, as well as being a half-sister to the Listed winner Prudenzia, herself the dam of Irish Oaks heroine Chiquita. All three are exciting buys and we look forward to getting them in later in the year.
Our runners acquitted themselves with credit on Saturday, particularly Red Cadeaux, who travelled with plenty of his old zest in the Geoffrey Freer before getting tired in the closing stages. That was exactly what we were looking for in terms of a building block for the autumn and Melbourne is now very firmly in his sights.
Sharaakah found one too good in the fillies’ nursery, but I loved the way she lengthened passing the two, and she remains on a firm upward curve. Alqubbah was perhaps slightly unlucky at Newbury, but she should have no trouble landing a similar maiden next time. Perhaps the drop in trip just caught Mulhaam for a bit of toe and he can now go handicapping.
We saddle two today starting with Queensbury Odyssey at Kempton. He was well beaten on nursery debut at Nottingham, although nothing got into the race from behind on that occasion. He now drops into 0-60 company with the first-time blinkers fitted and this isn’t a good race. We all have Richard Hannon’s to beat.
Rock Lobster runs in the mile and a quarter handicap at Chelmsford and we have put cheekpieces on him for the first time. He made a solid return from a break at Haydock, and he looks feasibly handicapped off a mark of 69 judged on his Windsor fifth, where the first four home are all rated considerably higher now than they were then. We are hopeful the surface will suit.
Five declarations for Wednesday including Oasis Fantasy in the two mile handicap at York and Qeyaadah in the six furlong nursery that closes the card. Frankie Dettori will ride the former and Pat Smullen the latter.
Seven entries for Saturday including Island Remede in the Listed handicap at Chester. The unsettled forecast for later in the week is a good sign for her.
We are delighted to be welcoming a large group of prominent New Zealand breeders to evening stables today on a tour organised by Peter and Frances Stanley. Dinner at the Jockey Club Rooms will follow.
Our five-a-side football team failed to build on our sports day exploits in the Racing Centre competition on Sunday. I’m told Unique had a part to play in proceedings.
Finally, it’s impossible not to feel sorry for Ralph Beckett, Jamie Spencer and Sheikh Fahad following the debacle in the Beverly D. on Saturday evening. I hope they appeal and I hope they are successful – common sense must prevail.
Back tomorrow.
Ed.