Longchamp in Paris today looked like a great place to be for the Arc and the Brits had some top results, most notably with David Simcock's Dream Ahead narrowly beating the champion mare Goldikova. Many people felt disappointed after Danedream won the big race but a quick look at her form shows you that she had won her last two German Group 1s very easily so maybe she wasn't the outsider we thought she should be.
Despite the sunny times meaning the ground is a bit too firm for some horses, I think we should make the most of the current temperatures because it won't be long before we don't see the mercury rise much above zero.
Even more extraordinarily, it was actually warm at Newcastle on Wednesday. Many have said that Tyneside doesn't get very hot but we were positively sweltering at Gosforth Park.
It was great to see loads of Blackmore's owners make the journey to see him run but it was a shame that the race didn't go as planned and he found himself in the wrong place when the pace quickened.
We don't go to racecourses further than three hours away from home very often and this result didn't do much to tempt us again!
Luckily the journey to Warwick the following day was a lot shorter and we got a better result too. Ross was pretty confident that Sail Home would win and even though she came second at 10/1, it was good to see her run well after some disappointing efforts. We seem to be finding the key to her too as she does get quite worked up at the races so we are finding ways to keep her as calm as possible.
Dolly Bay at Windsor kicks off the week tomorrow and even though she needs just one more run to qualify for handicaps, she might just be good enough to nick a place. She is probably one of the fastest horses in the yard but that is also her downfall - last time she went off too quickly before falling in a heap. If Adam can restrain her early on then hopefully she can finish with a dash.
Also with a place chance is Emma's Gift at Nottingham on Wednesday. She has struggled since winning at Ascot earlier in the year but has come down the handicap as a result. Helpfully, the track's watering system has not been working lately so she should get the lightening quick ground that she loves.
The most exciting horse of the week though comes on Friday when Automotive (below) goes to Wolverhampton.
We bought him from France in July and he had only had three runs. When he came to us, we couldn't believe he had raced even that much as he was very colty and unfit. Since then we have gelded him and his work, after a slow start, has been getting better and better. He might be a big price when he runs so is definitely worth a bit each way. Whatever he shows this time he will improve on next time too.
Sancho Panza (above, nearest) is getting towards the end of a long season but goes to Goodwood at the weekend back over two miles which should be right up his street. It is a flat race but for jump jockeys and I'm hoping to be cheeky and get Richard Hughes as he does hold a jumps licence and would really suit the horse. No doubt he will be in high demand though but whoever rides him, I hope he has enough left in the tank to land a place.Three To Follow Update
Sail Home's second place didn't alter the scores of the main protagonists but it meant that a number of people are now biting at their heels after moving up the leader board.
No comments:
Post a Comment