Atwaar
After a number of busy days with multiple runners from La Grange, it is a good deal quieter on the despatch front this morning. Luck seems not to have been on our side in recent times and while yesterday’s runners all performed with a degree of merit, the best placing was achieved when Perla Blanca finished second at Ayr under an excellent ride by Sophie Smith. This was a tremendous start to their partnership and with luck there should be more excellent days in the future.
Today I run Atwaar in the 6f ‘British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes’ (6.55). It is a family I am familiar with having trained the dam, Musharakaat during her racing career for Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum. Unfortunately, injury curtailed Musharakaat’s career as a 3yr old and she was retired to stud. Prior to this she had built up a nice CV on the track and after a winning debut as a 2yr old at Kempton, she rose to a BHA mark of 97 at her peak. Atwaar is the second of her offspring I have been lucky enough to train, having handled her half sister Alqubbah through her racing career. She too performed well on the track, winning a maiden at Yarmouth and at her peak reached a BHA mark of 93. Both sister and mother have set a high bar for Atwaar to aim at and I am confident in time she can uphold the family record on the track. She is from the first crop of Slade Power, a top- class sprinter with an outstanding race record at Group 1 level.
It is always difficult for a 2yr old on debut and the draw has not been kind with Atwaar drawn widest of all in stall 11. While she has been pleasing me in her homework, it will be difficult for Atwaar starting from this position. However, the experience itself will be of huge benefit to her and will be the first rung on the ladder in her career. She should progress well for the outing.
All the best
Ed