Steve and Qeyaadah.
Overcast and mild this morning although the weather looks reasonably amenable for those racing here this afternoon.
A frenetically busy morning with two groups of workers out first lot - they ventured to the Limekilns - and another group out second, who made their way to the Al Bahathri.
Mrs D and I enjoyed a wonderful evening in the company of James and Nicky Stafford, who run Thurloe Thoroughbreds, and a host of Thurloe partners at the Jockey Club Rooms last night and it was great that they braved the early morning to come and watch Scrutinise work. He runs at Chelmsford on Tuesday.
Mr Gredley was also in attendance to cast an eye over his charges, while Josh Pearson and his dad, who delved deep to buy a morning at La Grange in a silent auction last autumn, were here for an early breakfast, a tour of the yard and to watch second lot. We hope they had an enjoyable morning.
Lord and Lady Derby joined us for a later breakfast alongside Mrs Schwarzenbach. Together with Lady Ritblat and Lady Bamford they co-own Girl With A Pearl, who made an encouraging debut in the 6f fillies’ maiden at Newmarket yesterday. She was slowly away and ran green into the dip, but she ran on when hitting the rising ground and will know more next time. I think that will prove a decent maiden.
At Newbury, Qeyaadah made the perfect introduction in the division one of the 6f maiden, giving us a 100% strike-rate with our juveniles for all of eight minutes! It was a thoroughly professional performance from the son of Acclamation, who received an excellent ride from Adam Kirby, and he quickened like a smart sort in what looked a warm maiden on paper. The front two were nicely clear as well, so we will have to think about Royal Ascot with him now, which is hugely exciting.
I was at York for the Yorkshire Cup which didn’t quite go to plan. The ground was too quick for Island Remede and she was ultimately outclassed, while Times Up showed enough on his reappearance to think the old fire still burns. Plans for both remain fluid at the moment.
Two runners at Newbury this afternoon with Dutch Uncle kicking things off in the London Gold Cup. The race is as open as you like on paper and I think we must all fear Time Test, who posted some smart performances as a juvenile and is bred to do much better tackling this sort of test.
That said, the form of Dutch Uncle’s second at Doncaster has worked out a treat with the winner following-up at Windsor on Monday and the fourth, King Bolete, landing a highly-competitive handicap yesterday. Our horse is entitled to have come on for that run, which was his first in over 100 days, and these look his optimum conditions. Silvestre De Sousa rides and hopefully he continues his blazing form from yesterday.
Red Avenger also lines up in the last and we are on somewhat of a retrieval mission with him following a no-show at Goodwood two weeks ago. We are putting the blinkers back on him and he ran his best race this year over the course and distance when sixth in the Spring Cup. The quicker the ground the better for him.
Finally, Mrs D and I might need a loyalty card for the Jockey Club Rooms as we are back there this evening with the owners of Trip To Paris for a celebratory dinner following his Chester Cup success. Here's hoping it is not the only one this year!
Have a great weekend. Ed