Sorry I've not updated this sooner but as you can imagine the last few weeks have been a bit of a roller-coaster!! June couldn't have started better with yard favourite HUKUM winning our first Group 1 at Epsom!! His performance in The Coronation Cup was a personal best by him, the way he travelled under a great ride by Jim, and quickened when asked, finally showed everybody what a talented horse he is. I was very lucky that I had my wife & 2 children with me on such an important day but unfortunately the celebrations didn't last as long as I'd hoped!! The main thing is that he is going to be alright, no decision has been made yet on whether he will return to the track or head off to stud. Either way, I have been very privileged to have trained such an honest & professional horse!
We didn't have a lot of luck at Royal Ascot either! GREEN TEAM ran a decent enough race from a difficult draw in The Queens Vase. WASHRAA had no luck in The Sandringham, she was just beginning to make her move when hampered and clipped heels. She was lucky to stay on her feet and the way she ran on to finish 8th makes me think she'd have been in the shake up!! ALFLAILA fluffed his lines at the start for whatever reason! You can't do that at Ascot and the race was over for him early on! MINZAAL at least had every chance a furlong out but didn't really see his race out, Jim did say he may have just over travelled through the early stages and had nothing left for the end!
We had our first 2 year old runner at Windsor last Monday evening, TARJEEH. He was a little babyish before the race and unfortunately trod on a shoe which had to be put back on which isn't ideal! He was quite green in the early part of the race but really pleased me with how he ran on over the last 3 furlongs.
Fingers crossed our luck will change soon!!"
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