Arnarson
There was a sharp frost overnight but we have crept above freezing here at HQ. The yearlings are continuing to progress nicely and we now have about ¾ of them in here at La Grange. It is an important time of year as we lay the foundations for their future. It is a big day of racing at both Newbury and Newcastle today over jumps and the Hennessy looks an even more open race than usual.
The December sales are in full swing and I have been very fortunate to be sent the top lot from the yearling consignment on Monday. He is a very good looking son of Frankel and is a half-brother to the dual Grade 1 winner and Melbourne Cup third Hartnell.
Sagaciously is sadly being sold on Tuesday and she will be missed as she was one of our flag bearers during 2016. The highlight was her victory at Glorious Goodwood where she beat her younger sister Sagely and we hope Sagely can follow in her sister’s footsteps next season and gain some Black Type. Her best run of the year was when second to the subsequent Group 3 winner Chain of Daisies in the Listed Upavon Fillies’ Stakes and she is a lovely big mare who should prove popular on Tuesday evening.
We have one runner today at Wolverhampton in the 7f Maiden at 5:45. Arnarson is making his debut and it looks a strong race with three horses already showing they possess a good level of ability. Our son of Exceed And Excel is a nice stamp of a horse who will learn a lot from this evening but he is likely to prove too inexperienced against above average types who have experience under their belts.