Good morning from Newmarket. We have a busy day in store with three runners, though fortunately all of them are here on the Rowley Mile so we don’t have to travel very far!
First up is the two-year-old filly Goddess of Fire, whose racecourse debut allows me to introduce a new owner to the ranks. That is because this filly will be the first to run in the silks of my assistant trainer Tory Hayter, so needless to say the pressure is on!
Picked up for 6,000gns, Goddess of Fire is a half-sister to our three-year-old handicapper Maqaadeer, and as a result of her relatively modest purchase price she fits into this novice auction off a light weight. This is of course a very competitive race, with a previous winner of Ralph Beckett’s and a member of Archie Watson’s excellent band of two-year-olds heading the betting, whilst there are several far more expensive types than us who look dangerous too. However, Tory’s filly has done all that has been asked of her so far and hopefully she can show some encouragement and be well behaved on this first day at school. Jason Hart takes the mount.
In the 7.30, a mile and a quarter maiden, Triple Genius takes his second steps on a racecourse. A late-developing son of Mastercraftsman, we were satisfied with his recent Wetherby debut as, despite being outpaced turning for home, he then showed a good attitude to stay on up the straight. He is clearly a long-term project who will do better once handicapped, and he wouldn’t want the ground too quick, but hopefully Newmarket will hold onto a reasonable surface and we can continue to see some progression. Dan Muscutt rode him at Wetherby and retains the partnership.
Finally, it is the turn of the slightly disappointing Venedegar in the mile handicap at 8.35. A talented two-year-old last season, he has form that ties in with all sorts of smart types such as Phoenix of Spain, Waldstern, King of Comedy and Persian Moon, to name just a few. Those initial efforts in maiden/novice company earned him a rating of 83, but he has come tumbling down the weights with two poor efforts this term.
Stepped up to a mile and a quarter having been gelded over the winter, his two runs at Doncaster have been quite lifeless, and the application of blinkers failed to spark him into form 20 days ago. As a result we have had a re-think, and revert to a mile today and with no headgear. At some point this horse is going to look very well-handicapped, but today’s race appears to be very competitive once again. We have secured the services of Rab Havlin, and his feedback after the race will be a huge asset in determining where go with horse in the future. I am still hopeful that there is some latent ability lurking, so let’s hope for a better showing today.
All the best,
Ed.