We had high hopes that Isis Blue was going to be a progressive three-year-old this season but things hadn't quite gone to plan this year. He was unlucky when second on his return at Kempton, getting hampered at a crucial stage but ran far too keenly when disappointing on his next two outings. We dropped him right out at Warwick to get him to relax and although he was left with too much to do, it was a step in the right direction as he stayed on well for third. Stepped up to ten furlongs at Salisbury on Thursday evening, he settled well off the strong early pace and as he gradually made his way into contention, he soon put the race to bed when asked to quicken inside the final two furlongs. It was an impressive success and although the handicapper has raised him to 75, we hope he can progress through the grades this season.
One filly that has improved this season is Poetic Verse but a four-timer proved beyond her at Sandown. Stepped up to fourteen furlongs but more importantly up in grade, she stayed on steadily to claim fourth place and it looks as if the handicapper may have got hold of her for now. She has gone up twenty three pounds since winning at Southwell in February and while she has a fantastic attitude, she lacks the scope of some of her rivals and life won't be easy this summer.
Latest News from the Yard
Tuesday, 28 May 2013
Third Success In Valuable Pontefract Conditions Event
After getting outpaced in a competitive five furlong conditions event at Ascot, we were confident the stiff six furlongs at Pontefract would suit Master Carpenter and he'd make it a successful 560 mile round trip to the Yorkshire course. The £15,000 Conditions event is a race we like to target with our best two-year-olds, having had three representative in the event, winning it in 2003 with Cop Hill Lad (later runner-up in the Super Sprint) and 2009 with Roi De Vitesse (runner-up in Group 2 Superlative Stakes) while Glenmuir was second in 2005. With Master Carpenter's running style and breeding suggesting he was only going to improve stepped up in trip, we were slightly surprised that the Richard Hannon trained Malachim Mist was such a hot favourite, as both had showed a similar level of form and he'd already had a run over six. Although the fact that Richard Hughes highlighted him in his Racing Post column certainly gave confidence to his many supporters. However, those that kept the faith with the smaller yard were rewarded with an 11/4 winner as Master Carpenter won a shade comfortably, always doing enough to win by a length and three quarters.
Master Carpenter's next target will be the Chesham at Royal Ascot and he fully deserves to take his chance at the Royal meeting. Andrea suggested that he needs seven furlongs already and as the Chesham is restricted to two-year-olds whose sire have won over ten furlongs or more. This means it's by far the weakest two-year-old race at the meeting, as most early two-year-olds are ineligible for the contest and we're hopeful of a big run.
Master Carpenter's next target will be the Chesham at Royal Ascot and he fully deserves to take his chance at the Royal meeting. Andrea suggested that he needs seven furlongs already and as the Chesham is restricted to two-year-olds whose sire have won over ten furlongs or more. This means it's by far the weakest two-year-old race at the meeting, as most early two-year-olds are ineligible for the contest and we're hopeful of a big run.
Improved Hurdles Third For Annabelle
Despite schooling well at home, Princess Anabelle had jumped very slowly and deliberately when disappointing on her first two hurdle outings at Newton Abbot. We decided to put some blinkers on her and with new jockey Mark Quinlan gaining some confidence on her by schooling at the yard, she posted a much improved effort when third on Monday. Ridden handily, she jumped much better and travelled strongly in the blinkers before she was headed three out. She stayed on determinedly and was only beaten nine lengths and ran up to her solid bumper form. The handicapper has rated her 96 which is high enough, so we may keep her to Mares Novices for the time being.
Icebuster hasn't had much luck this season and he got no run whatsoever at Windsor on Monday evening. He settled quite nicely in the early stages off a steady pace but the field were still well bunched entering the home straight and he saw no daylight up the inside until it was too late. He stayed on well for fourth and confirmed he's in rude health and he can win races off 86.
Icebuster hasn't had much luck this season and he got no run whatsoever at Windsor on Monday evening. He settled quite nicely in the early stages off a steady pace but the field were still well bunched entering the home straight and he saw no daylight up the inside until it was too late. He stayed on well for fourth and confirmed he's in rude health and he can win races off 86.
Sunday, 19 May 2013
Three Meets On Monday
It's a very busy Monday for the yard with three runners at three meetings, unsurprisingly Dad has chosen to go to Newton Abbot, nice and close to home!
The best chance would be Icebuster at Windsor who steps back up to twelve furlongs, having been outpaced throughout dropped back to nine at Newmarket last time out. He isn't an easy horse to win with, as slow starts mean he needs a strong pace to be seen at his best and that might not be guaranteed tomorrow. Tom Queally takes the ride and if he can be ridden prominently, without been chased up off a slow pace, he should go quite well with just nine runners. The handicapper put him up six pounds for his Haydock success so he needs to keep improving and Proofreader will be difficult to beat, as he looked a very well handicapped individual when meeting all sorts of trouble at Chester last time. However, lets hope he continues his good run of form and picks up some more prize money.
At Leicester, Winnie Perry needs to get his confidence back after losing his action at Bath last time out. The race may be too competitive but hopefully he has a trouble free run. A similar comment applies to Princess Anabelle who hasn't jumped well on her first two hurdle outings, having made a very bad mistake at the first on her debut. She has schooled under Mark Quinlan at home and jumps really well, so hopefully she at least gets involved today. Although the step up in trip should suit and she was only two lengths behind one of the favourites Garryleigh in a bumper at Taunton, so has the ability to run well.
The best chance would be Icebuster at Windsor who steps back up to twelve furlongs, having been outpaced throughout dropped back to nine at Newmarket last time out. He isn't an easy horse to win with, as slow starts mean he needs a strong pace to be seen at his best and that might not be guaranteed tomorrow. Tom Queally takes the ride and if he can be ridden prominently, without been chased up off a slow pace, he should go quite well with just nine runners. The handicapper put him up six pounds for his Haydock success so he needs to keep improving and Proofreader will be difficult to beat, as he looked a very well handicapped individual when meeting all sorts of trouble at Chester last time. However, lets hope he continues his good run of form and picks up some more prize money.
At Leicester, Winnie Perry needs to get his confidence back after losing his action at Bath last time out. The race may be too competitive but hopefully he has a trouble free run. A similar comment applies to Princess Anabelle who hasn't jumped well on her first two hurdle outings, having made a very bad mistake at the first on her debut. She has schooled under Mark Quinlan at home and jumps really well, so hopefully she at least gets involved today. Although the step up in trip should suit and she was only two lengths behind one of the favourites Garryleigh in a bumper at Taunton, so has the ability to run well.
Shahdaroba Hampered At Newmarket
It was a wasted trip up to Newmarket on Saturday, as in a very rough race Shahdaroba got bumped about and lost his action quite badly going into the dip. Andrea eased him down in case their was a problem but he seems fine after the race. He needs a fast run race and ease in the ground to be seen at his best but a mark of 94 makes life very hard and we're not too sure where he heads next.
Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Duel Returns After Gelding Op
Dovils Duel was by far our sharpest two-year-old back in March but he proved very disappointing in two runs on the track. Although the ground may have been too soft at Doncaster when fifth in the Brocklesby, he was very badly behaved in the preliminaries. At Kempton, he behaved better but produced an average effort, dropping away in the home straight. In his defence, he had the outside stall and was always stuck wide and it was a competitive maiden. However, we felt that he was clearly not performing as he should and decided to have him gelded, in the hope he will start concentrating on the job in hand. He returns to the track at Bath on Wednesday evening and we have lowered our sights by dropping him into a Class 6 Maiden Auction Stakes and it doesn't look the most competitive of events on paper. The other two-year-olds have caught him up at home but he should still be capable of going close in an ordinary race.
Dance has performed creditably in her bumpers, finishing placed on her last three starts. She makes her flat debut at Salisbury in a strong looking fillies maiden. The drop back to ten furlongs should suit but she would need to improve plenty on her bumper form to get involved. However, she should make a nice handicap prospect in time.
Dance has performed creditably in her bumpers, finishing placed on her last three starts. She makes her flat debut at Salisbury in a strong looking fillies maiden. The drop back to ten furlongs should suit but she would need to improve plenty on her bumper form to get involved. However, she should make a nice handicap prospect in time.
Unlucky Defeats For Two-Year-Olds
It was a slightly frustrating Saturday as both our two-year-old representatives were unlucky as Urban Dreamer and Seaham were second and third respectively. After his no show at Bath, Urban Dreamer showed much improved form when runner-up at Chepstow and probably improved again when second in a Bonus Maiden at Lingfield. He looked set to win entering the final furlong before been collared by Cool Bahamian, an Eve-Johnson Houghton newcomer, well inside the final furlong. Stall two, with the stands side rail such a big advantage and the ease in the ground, probably cost him victory and it shouldn't be long before he's off the mark.
Like Urban Dreamer, Seaham was very disappointing on his debut at Newbury, although in his defence that race was extremely competitive and he ended up racing on the much slower ground on the stands side. He was still green in the early stages at Warwick, which meant Andrea wasn't able to take the gap up the favoured stands rail as they entered the home straight. Unfortunately that gap had closed by the time Seaham had reached top gear and he had to be switched around his rivals. He was only beaten three quarters of a length in third and he should improve again for that experience and he's certainly capable of winning some nice races this season.
Like Urban Dreamer, Seaham was very disappointing on his debut at Newbury, although in his defence that race was extremely competitive and he ended up racing on the much slower ground on the stands side. He was still green in the early stages at Warwick, which meant Andrea wasn't able to take the gap up the favoured stands rail as they entered the home straight. Unfortunately that gap had closed by the time Seaham had reached top gear and he had to be switched around his rivals. He was only beaten three quarters of a length in third and he should improve again for that experience and he's certainly capable of winning some nice races this season.
Busy Bank Holiday Ends With A Winner
We had a very busy Bank Holiday Monday with six runners at four meetings and most ran with credit before Astrum won the finale at Warwick. The Haafhd gelding has turned the corner as a three-year-old and this was his second success of the season, both at Warwick and he looks set to progress again as he wasn't given a hard time by Andrea and still won by a length and three quarters. His previous Nottingham third, where he ended up poorly placed, has worked out extremely well and hopefully he can get win number three in the coming weeks.
Pat had a good ride on yard veteran Shavansky and the pair didn't quite get up when losing out by a neck in a London Mile Qualifier at Kempton. Once again the £43,000 Final which he won last year will be his main aim this season. Isis Blue returned to form when third at Warwick, having disappointed on his two previous starts where he raced too keenly, so we decided to drop him out the back and made sure he settled in the early stages. While, he ran his race much more professionally, the first two raced prominently and he just had too much ground to make up but it was a step in the right direction.
Although she finished third, it was a slightly disappointing effort from Gladiatrix in the fillies handicap at Kempton. She didn't really pick up in the closing stages and it may be that six furlongs stretches her stamina but she needs to improve again before we target some Listed races. At Bath, Blue Anchor Bay was fourth in a maiden, he would have finished closer if he wasn't hampered by the third.
Pat had a good ride on yard veteran Shavansky and the pair didn't quite get up when losing out by a neck in a London Mile Qualifier at Kempton. Once again the £43,000 Final which he won last year will be his main aim this season. Isis Blue returned to form when third at Warwick, having disappointed on his two previous starts where he raced too keenly, so we decided to drop him out the back and made sure he settled in the early stages. While, he ran his race much more professionally, the first two raced prominently and he just had too much ground to make up but it was a step in the right direction.
Although she finished third, it was a slightly disappointing effort from Gladiatrix in the fillies handicap at Kempton. She didn't really pick up in the closing stages and it may be that six furlongs stretches her stamina but she needs to improve again before we target some Listed races. At Bath, Blue Anchor Bay was fourth in a maiden, he would have finished closer if he wasn't hampered by the third.
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
Two Fourths On A Big Day
Neither Icebuster nor Shahdaroba were disgraced when finishing fourth in two competitive handicaps at Newmarket on 2000 Guineas day. Icebuster found nine furlongs too sharp and got going all too late but showed he can be competitive of his new mark of 86. He will have a short break as he has been very busy. The seven pound rise Shahdaroba got for his success at the Craven meeting slightly anchored him but he was never far away and was hampered in the final furlong so could have finished closer. He will go back to Newmarket on the 18th May for a £45,000 sprint and he shouldn't be far away once again, especially if there is some ease in the ground.
Friday, 3 May 2013
Icebuster And Shahdaroba At Newmarket On 2000 Guineas Day
It's great that the yard is doubly represented at Newmarket on 2000 Guineas day and hopefully both Icebuster and Shahdaroba will put up good shows, despite the handicapper making life much harder after recent wins.
Icebuster thoroughly deserved his head victory at Haydock last weekend after his narrow Kempton defeats, although its debatable whether he deserved a six pound rise. He's dropping back in trip once again to nine furlongs and with a few front runners tomorrow, he should get the strong pace he needs. Although he stays further, the straight track is ideal for Icebuster as even if he's slow to stride and at the back of the field, without a bend, he shouldn't be too far off the pace. He also likes to have space at the end of his races, which he should be able to get tomorrow and there is certainly plenty in his favour. It doesn't look the most competitive of races for £45,000, with only Danchai, Rye House and Whispering Warrior unexposed enough to be much better than their current mark. The first two are making their seasonal return and probably want further, while the Simcock horse has won some very weak AW races in the context of this handicap and needs to improve. With Icebuster in very good form at the moment, hopefully he can pick up some of the decent prize money that's on offer.
After a slightly disappointing fourth on his return at Doncaster, we felt that a mark of 87 could be on the high side for Shahdaroba but he proved us wrong when winning at Newmarket's Craven meeting. It was a slightly strange sprint in that few got involved and he ended up winning quite comfortably. The handicapper stuck him up seven pounds for his course and distance win and has ended up with top weight tomorrow, giving at least five pounds or more to the rest of the field. The form of his win hasn't worked out great, with the third and sixth well beaten in a similar race at Sandown, although the eighth did win at Wolverhampton. He faces some unexposed sprinters, such as Secretinthepark and Robot Boy, so it's a very tough ask. However, he surprised the yard when winning last time, so let's hope he does it again!
Icebuster thoroughly deserved his head victory at Haydock last weekend after his narrow Kempton defeats, although its debatable whether he deserved a six pound rise. He's dropping back in trip once again to nine furlongs and with a few front runners tomorrow, he should get the strong pace he needs. Although he stays further, the straight track is ideal for Icebuster as even if he's slow to stride and at the back of the field, without a bend, he shouldn't be too far off the pace. He also likes to have space at the end of his races, which he should be able to get tomorrow and there is certainly plenty in his favour. It doesn't look the most competitive of races for £45,000, with only Danchai, Rye House and Whispering Warrior unexposed enough to be much better than their current mark. The first two are making their seasonal return and probably want further, while the Simcock horse has won some very weak AW races in the context of this handicap and needs to improve. With Icebuster in very good form at the moment, hopefully he can pick up some of the decent prize money that's on offer.
After a slightly disappointing fourth on his return at Doncaster, we felt that a mark of 87 could be on the high side for Shahdaroba but he proved us wrong when winning at Newmarket's Craven meeting. It was a slightly strange sprint in that few got involved and he ended up winning quite comfortably. The handicapper stuck him up seven pounds for his course and distance win and has ended up with top weight tomorrow, giving at least five pounds or more to the rest of the field. The form of his win hasn't worked out great, with the third and sixth well beaten in a similar race at Sandown, although the eighth did win at Wolverhampton. He faces some unexposed sprinters, such as Secretinthepark and Robot Boy, so it's a very tough ask. However, he surprised the yard when winning last time, so let's hope he does it again!
Dreamer Shows Homework On The Track
It was a busy Thursday evening at Chepstow with three runners and we nearly had another two-year-old winner as Urban Dreamer was narrowly denied by a neck. He was extremely disappointing when last on his debut at Bath, especially as his homework had been pretty promising beforehand. He was much better behaved last night and looked like winning before he was collared by the Hannon trained Hedge End in the final furlong. He was still a bit green and he should have no trouble in winning a maiden in the next few weeks. Ice Tres was a bit too keen in the early stages when fourth in the twelve furlong handicap and her run petered out inside the final furlong but wasn't disgraced. Wyndham Wave was disappointing on his return and will probably drop back to a mile next time.
Creditable Third For Carpenter At Ascot
As expected, five furlongs on drying ground was too sharp a test for Master Carpenter, although the Mastercraftsman colt still put up a solid effort to finish third in a very competitive conditions event. We were slightly surprised that there was no early pace and although he was out in front, he was left a sitting duck when Richard Hughes sprinted past on Anticipating at halfway. It was still pleasing to see him rally again in the final furlong and it confirmed that we have a nice horse. We will now go to Pontefract for a six furlongs conditions event we won with Roi De Vitesse back in 2009 and return to Ascot for the Royal meeting if all goes well.
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