Melodies
Good morning from Newmarket, where it is the first day of the July meeting on the track, whilst the July Sale is in full swing at Tattersalls. We also host our July lunch at La Grange Stables this afternoon so it is busy, busy, busy! We have three runners today split between Newmarket and Doncaster and hopefully all of them can be competitive.
In the Gr.3 Bahrain Trophy at 1.50 at Newmarket I will saddle Global Giant. He was an excellent fifth in the Gr.3 Hampton Court Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Royal Ascot last month, and deserves to stay in this sort of company after that – he was hiked up in the weights by almost a stone anyway! The big question mark today is the trip, as the mile and five furlongs could stretch him. You wouldn’t necessarily associate Shamardals with this sort of trip, but the dam Aniseed was a winner and Listed-placed over a mile and a half and is by Dalakhani. It looks a typically competitive renewal, but we are rated four pounds higher than likely favourite First Eleven, so should we stay then I hope that he can give a good account.
In the 2.15 at Doncaster our amateur Sophie Smith gets another spin on Perla Blanca. The combination were an excellent second at Ayr on their first outing together earlier in the season, and we have just been waiting for the right ground since. It will probably remain quicker than ideal, but Doncaster have been doing an excellent job by all accounts, and Perla has run well on good to firm a couple of times before. The interesting ingredient of this race is that it is Perla Blanca’s first attempt at two miles, though all her efforts at a mile and three-quarters, and her stout pedigree, indicate that it won’t be a problem. Far from it in fact, we hope she can improve for the distance and she goes there with a nice each way chance. Good luck Sophie!
In the 4.00 at the same venue Melodies is a runner in the 0-85 fillies’ handicap over a mile. Only five go to post, but it looks a tight-knit contest. Our filly showed promise in three starts at two, before running no more than a fair race on her seasonal reappearance at Nottingham. The soft ground that day could well be a legitimate excuse however, and a return to this quicker surface will suit. She was second to the subsequent Listed-winner Magnolia Springs last year, so it is possible she is competitively weighted from a mark of 78. Hopefully we can see a reproduction of her best this afternoon.
Best wishes,
Ed.