Good morning from Newmarket! We have been greeted by sunny weather all week, even if there is a chill in the air each morning, and currently they are reporting good ground on the Rowley Mile ahead of the Craven meeting next week. We have started browsing the programme book to look at entries, and hopefully we will have a few representatives - though most of our runners are likely to be young horses who are longer-term projects.
On to matters closer to hand, and we are taking two interesting runners to Nottingham this afternoon. First up is Amazing Red, who is certainly not a horse for tomorrow, but has been a superstar for us in recent seasons.
His two victories last year propelled him to a rating in the low 100s, and from that sort of perch he is incredibly difficult to place. A couple of months back, as we started to ty and map out a campaign for him, we discussed the possibility of throwing him into the Listed Further Flight Stakes, in case the race cut up a little. Well, that is exactly what has happened with only four going to post, so at 3.05 today the old boy gets his first shot at Listed company as a six-year-old!
The Roger Varian-trained filly Pilaster won the Gr.2 Lillie Langtry Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last season, and looks a very strong favourite, whilst the Mark Johnston trained Elegiac is an improving handicapper who clearly has the potential to rate even higher. We have to give weight to the pair, so the terms are not advantageous, but returning to the grass and a more galloping track will be in our favour. It is asking a lot to beat the big two, but I hope we can at least ruffle their feathers and be involved at the business end. P J McDonald has a good record on Amazing Red and will be in the plate again this afternoon.
In the 4.40, a mile and a quarter 0-75 handicap for three-year-olds, we get Valence started for the year. He is a son of Oasis Dream out of my Matron and Sun Chariot Stakes winner Independence. She has been a wonderful broodmare, giving the Eclipse winner and successful stallion Mount Nelson and the St Leger third Monitor Closely (who is a full-brother to Valence incidentally).
Valence is not in the league of his famous siblings, but he showed enough encouragement in three runs at two to suggest that he has a future as a middle distance or staying handicapper. Whilst a few pounds lower than 70 might have been preferable, I would still like to think we will see something positive this afternoon to give us an idea of where we are going with him for the rest of the year. He rates a nice prospect at the appropriate level. Dan Muscutt has ridden him at work at home and retains the partnership on the track today.
Best wishes,
Ed.