Successful Return For Gladiatrix

Gladiatrix

Tuesday was a busy day for the yard, with runners at Southwell and Kempton and we were unlucky not to come away with a double. Last year Gladiatrix racked up a quick four-timer in the autumn and made a very promising seasonal debut when winning at Southwell. We weren't sure she'd enjoy the fibresand at Southwell, especially as she normally gets behind early but Michael Murphy got her out quickly and kept her close enough to the pace to avoid the kickback. Hitting the front inside the final furlong, she just did enough to hold on in a bunch finish to land the valuable £12,000 handicap. She should improve for the run and progress throughout the season.

After his promising seasonal debut, when runner up in a competitive event at Kempton, we were hopeful Isis Blue would go one better on Tuesday. However, he was quite keen early and didn't handle the left hand bend too well before looking awkward up the home straight as he plugged on for third. He's come back home fine and we're hoping he just failed to handle the surface, as he'd beaten the winner at Kempton and he's much better than he showed on Tuesday.

We also had Icebuster at Kempton and he was desperately unlucky not to make a winning return, failing to get up by a head. Once again he was undone by a steady pace on the AW and even in a smaller field, he was unable to make up the ground in time. He's returned in good form and should be much more effective on a galloping turf track.