A lovely day at HQ yesterday was capped off perfectly with victory for Amazing Red at Kempton. Having been a little keen in the early part of the race, Mr. Arculli’s gelding stayed on powerfully in the straight and when shaken up, surged past the field to score by a comfortable 1 ¾ lengths. Warmest congratulations and thanks to Ronnie Arculli, and I now look forward to his campaign in some of the better staying handicaps over the Summer.
Attention today for La Grange switches to the first flat meeting of the year at Ascot where I run Mr Jaber’s Apex King in the closing Manny Mercer Apprentice Handicap over the straight mile (4.55). After winning a very good Novice Stakes at Newmarket and following up in listed company at Ascot as a 2yr old. His early 3yr old campaign did not go as planned. I decided to geld him and give him some time in the paddocks. He returned to action with a decent 5th in a good Newmarket handicap, and following this I started to consider his 4yr old campaign. His first run at Chelmsford went awry when missing the break slightly put paid to his chance there. To sharpen his reactions in the stalls, I tried blinkers for his next run in the Spring Mile at Doncaster. A combination of very soft ground and being too keen in the headgear, put paid to his chance there.
Talented apprentice Lewis Edmunds takes the mount today, and while it looks a very competitive contest, I am hoping for a much-improved showing from Apex King. The better ground at Ascot should help. Carrying top weight against promising handicappers will not be easy, but his 2yr old form would suggest he can be involved from a rating of 86. There looks to be plenty of pace among the higher-drawn horses, so hopefully being drawn 5 will not prove to be too much of an inconvenience, and Apex gets a good pace to aim at.
All the best,
Ed.