Justice First returns to Lingfield this afternoon.
Quite warm and fresh this morning – much more pleasant than has been the case of late.
Mrs Dunlop and I returned from Japan on Monday afternoon and Trip To Paris, Robin and Steve will be back in the yard tomorrow.
Things didn’t go to plan in the Japan Cup, but TTP certainly wasn’t disgraced having been beaten only four and a quarter lengths with circumstances conspiring against him. He will have a break now before we work out a plan for next year, but he’ll only be a five-year-old in 2016 and it’s not unrealistic to think there could be more improvement in him.
There will be plenty of time for musing tomorrow evening as the La Grange Partnership congregate once again, this time at the ROA awards evening in London. TTP has been nominated in the stayers category, but his Cartier conqueror Simple Verse also holds a nomination so we face stiff competition for the prize.
Trevor Milner was here this morning to see his yearling colt by Bid Bad Bob out at exercise.
Andy Smith also popped in.
We run one at Lingfield this afternoon with Justice First lining up in the seven furlong handicap. His best performances have come around here, albeit over six furlongs, but we couldn’t find a suitable sprint for him and we wanted to get him back on the racecourse.
We have left the blinkers off going back up in trip and while he doesn’t look on a particularly kind mark, our young apprentice Johnny Fisher takes 7lb off his back. This is Johnny’s first ride for us and only his second ever, so hopefully the horse can give him a decent tow round from a good draw. We wish him the best of luck.
Red Verdon is in again on Saturday in what looks a warm maiden at Wolverhampton while Harlestone Hopes could run in a staying handicap at Chelmsford on Monday.
Both of our fillies sold at Tattersalls on Monday. The connections of Arethusa were delighted to get more than double the purchase price for their filly and she is a nice racing and breeding prospect for her new connections.
The top-end of the market has been exceptionally strong all week, although the lower levels have needed some propping up.
Back soon.
Ed.