Amazing Red
With the hot weather continuing we remain short on runners, as the ground seems to be like a road all over. It is just too much of a risk for many horses, but everyone is in the same boat so we must get on with it. The all-weather becomes a saviour in times like this, and once again we are represented at Newcastle this afternoon, with Amazing Red taking his chance in the Northumberland Plate at 2.05.
It is a wonderful old race and it is very exciting to have a runner with half a chance!
We have drawn stall 8, which hopefully isn’t too bad, and Jim Crowley rides for the first time. Plenty have talked up the chance of Amazing Red in the days leading up to the race, but it looks an extremely competitive race with lots of dangers. The way Withold won the Cesarewitch was very taking, whilst we are also up against Willie Mullins recent Royal Ascot winner Lagostovegas, last year’s winner Higher Power and many other interesting and dangerous opponents. I was delighted with how he won at Newmarket last time, however, and he does seem to be an improving stayer that might have the potential to do more.
We do risk one on the fast ground, namely the consistent filly Fabulous Red in the 3.30 at Newmarket. A nursery winner over seven furlongs last year, she has been gradually upped in trip this year and has run with credit throughout. She was beaten a short head over a mile and a quarter at Salisbury, and then looked quite unlucky to finish second at Ripon over the same distance. She goes up to a mile and a half today, which is something of a question mark. Although by the speedy Red Jazz, there is a lot of stamina on the dams side so we hope that the trip won’t prove an issue. It is a competitive field, and we go in hope rather than expectation, but the filly has never let us down so far. Hayley Turner is booked to ride.
Both of our runners today, incidentally, are owned by Mr Ronnie Arculli, and we wish him all the best!
All the best,
Ed.