Sharaakah
We have had another dry twenty four hours and the ground is now officially good at Newmarket, there are showers forecast during the early part of next week and therefore the ground should not get too fast but it will be very different to the slow ground that has prevailed elsewhere recently. The horses all seemed fresh and well today out at exercise and I have now left for Sandown Park where the ground should still be on the softer side of good.
It was a frustrating day yesterday as we had two seconds and Scrutinise was only beaten by a nose. It was great to see him come back to form after two runs where he disappointed with mitigating cicrumstances as he did not handle Epsom and did not stay at Goodwood. Shafafya ran well at Haydock but she ran into a filly who looks useful and looked a very strong stayer in the ground. Oceanus ran with credit at Sandown in the seven furlong Maiden when finishing sixth, he was too keen early but was not beaten that far.
We have two runners today, Sharaakah runs in the Listed One Mile Coral Distaff at Sandown. She ran extremely well in the Sandringham handicap at Royal Ascot and if she can build on that she will have a good chance here, the draw out in stall ten is a concern however. Looking at her opponents it’s a strong Listed race, Snow Moon has a Nassau entry and Wilamina was very impressive when winning her maiden last time at Newmarket, Raaqy made a promising seasonal reappearance for an in form yard at Ascot.
Dora’s Field run in the 5:20 at Beverley, she ran in what looked to be a strong handicap at Nottingham last time as was only beaten just over three lengths, shaping as if she needed to step up in trip. She has a decent draw here and drops in grade but I wish there had been a little less rain, she handled good to soft ground at Newmarket but soft ground is an unknown. The likely favourite does not run and the favourite Livella Fella has handled good to soft but did not run well on soft ground last October. Lime and Lemon is still unexposed and Shine and Sunshineandbubbles have placed form but we hope she will go close providing she handles the surface.
Wales showed just what belief and team spirit can do when beating Belgium three one in the European Championship Quarter Final last night. I hope the England team were watching as it really was an example of how unity can lead to a fantastic team performance and a victory that turned the form book upside down.