Red Verdon
It has been another bright and sunny morning here at HQ, but the threat of some rain and thunderstorms over the weekend has us all on weather watch again. While the weather had nothing to do with what happened to my runner at Kempton last evening, it did feel like a cloud was hovering overhead. After being left in the stalls while others were proving difficult to load, Atwaar decided she had enough waiting around, and pushed her way through the front gates of the stalls. While she was perfectly fine, and did not gallop down the track, the rules state that when a horse goes through the front of the stalls, it must be withdrawn. While frustrating, the main thing is she was unharmed and unfussed by it all and returned to La Grange in fine fettle last night.
It has been busy again this morning as we prepare 4 runners for an evening shift at the track. First to the starting gates is Qawamees in the 1m ‘Extra Places At totesport.com Novice Stakes’ at Chelmsford (6.45). Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum’s 3yr old colt made a very encouraging debut in a maiden at Nottingham last November going down by a short-head to Kinaesthesia. The race has worked out well, with several subsequent winners emerging from those behind, and while this is a starting point for Qawamees’ season, I go there with a degree of optimism. The draw has not been kind with stall 12 for such an inexperienced horse, and the opposition looks formidable, but he is going well at home, and I hope he can continue to progress.
Next up at Chelmsford is Amplification in the 1m ‘Irish Lotto At totesport.com Handicap’ (7.15). This is his first try at a mile for Mr Hui’s 3yr old gelding and he will have to defy a mark of 80 to be competitive in this heat. With some proven and unexposed types in opposition, this will be a difficult task, but I am very hopeful he can be competitive here.
My final runner at Chelmsford tonight is Amazing Red in the 1m2f ‘Bet In Play At totesport.com Handicap’ (7.45). Mr Arculli’s gelding ran his usual consistent race at Chester, finding only Restorer too good on the day. He has been raised a pound for this effort and will need to improve again to defy 102 against this field. With established AW performers, and a few unexposed improvers lining up, Red will need to be at his best to go close here.
There is a cracking card at Sandown for Brigadier Gerard Stakes night, and I run Red Verdon in the 2m ‘Matchbook VIP Henry II Stakes (Group 3)’ at (7.35). I step Mr Arculli’s gelding up to 2 miles for only the second time in his career, and I think the extended distance may suit. His previous attempt at the distance was at finals day at Lingfield, and while performing well there, Sandown will undoubtedly place more emphasis on stamina. This should definitively answer the question on his stamina and will inform his future campaign.
All the best,
Ed.