After very little going right for us after Hukum's win, we have ended what's probably one of my best weeks since training!! Anmaat produced a great performance to win The John Smith's Cup at York on his seasonal debut. It was a huge effort from all of my team to get him ready for such a competitive handicap off a rating of 103! He has been raised to 108 now so it really forces our hand into stakes company now.
Washraa ran a good race to finish 3rd at Ascot only beaten 2 necks and then it was great to see Tarrabb back to winning ways half an hour later! Things hadn't quite gone her way since she won first time up at Chelmsford back in May. She's a lovely filly with lots of quality!
We're just starting to get going with the 2 year olds, Almutawakel ran a nice race first time up at Ffos Las. He was only beaten a length from a wide draw and the first 2 pulled a few lengths clear of the 3rd which normally is a good sign.
Tarjeeh then broke his maiden at Newbury on his second start, it didn't look likely a furlong down but he really hit his stride late on and won going away. He's always shown a good level of ability at home so I'm not sure yet whether we let him carry a penalty in a novice or go into stakes company next? He would appreciate a little juice in the ground so we may have to be patient.
I was thrilled to get Minzaal back in the winners enclosure the next day in The Group 3 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury. He was a high class 2 year old, winning a Group 2 & Group 1 placed, he was Group 1 placed again last year, so it was really important to get his head in front again. Hopefully we can head back to the top table again now so there's a Group 1 in France in 3 weeks then the Haydock Super Sprint Group 1 at the beginning of September on the agenda!
We're pretty quiet this week with runners which isn't a bad thing in this heat! Like most yards we've been starting early so that we can get the horses exercised before it gets really hot! It means the staff have a nice long break before evening stables where the horses have been getting a nice wash down in our purpose built shower area again to keep them cool!
We just have Alflaila entered at Pontefract on Sunday in a Listed race, I was very pleased with his 2nd at Newmarket where he split a couple of smart horses which had run very well in a Group 1 at Royal Ascot so if he runs I'd be hopeful!
Comments