The string on the Limekilns this morning.
Fresh and chilly first thing.
I returned to Newmarket last night to oversee 19 workers on the Limekilns this morning. They included Sharaakah, who holds an entry in the Prestige Stakes on Saturday, and Alqubbah, who could bid to shed her maiden tag at either Goodwood or Yarmouth over the weekend. We had a nice drop of rain yesterday and the ground was riding just on the easy side.
I am now back at Doncaster for day one of the Yearling Sale. The quality was good on the whole yesterday and potential purchasers seemed numerically strong. I expect trade to be healthy.
We are down to two runners today as the ground appears bottomless at Brighton and we do not want to run Rock Lobster through the mud. He remains engaged at Bath tomorrow and we will monitor conditions in the morning. He’ll be 3lb well-in should he run having been handed a 9lb rise this morning.
If she is anything like her sister, Island Authority won’t mind the testing conditions at Chepstow. It’s a maiden handicap and a pretty average race, although the handicapper hasn’t been overly kind with an opening mark of 67.
At Newbury, Opposition makes his debut in the mile maiden and the ground will be pretty testing there as well. He’s a strapping son of Dalakhani out of a sister to French Oaks winner Confidential Lady, and this is a good starting point.
We re-declared Hajeer for the Lingfield nursery tomorrow that has been switched from the turf to the polytrack. Stall nine of nine is rather frustrating!
Happy hunting to those at the Sale!
Back tomorrow.
Ed.