We have our first runner in France for nearly five years as stable star Master Carpenter goes for a Group 3 in Chantilly on Monday (14.50GMT). There are eight runners and Christophe Soumillion takes the ride in a nine furlong contest. He is the only English raider and it is hard to equate what Master Carpenter's form is worth against his rivals but he comes out third top on official ratings. Favourite is Bodhi who has won his last four starts, including over course and distance and even with his 3lb penalty, looks the one to beat. However, Master Carpenter's confidence can only be boosted by that facile success at Sandown and with the rain-softened ground (why he has gone to France) in his favour, we are hopeful of a place at least.
We also have two 'home' runners at Southwell and Windsor. Masai Moon is back on his beloved fibresand and despite the fact that his last four wins have been at six furlongs, we still feel he is best at seven furlongs as he gets badly outpaced. He has a bit to find on official ratings but he is nearly always in the three at Southwell so should not be too far away. Ivor's Princess is not the most consistent but has won twice in the last six months, once over seven furlongs and then twelve furlongs at Bath. Whatever the trip, she is reliant on a strong pace, which she should get in a thirteen runner field and if on a going day, she should not be too far away.
Latest News from the Yard
Showing posts with label Ivors Princess. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ivors Princess. Show all posts
Monday, 30 June 2014
Friday, 30 May 2014
First Ever Across The Card Treble
Thursday 29th May proved to be a red letter day for the yard as we recorded our first ever treble. Ivors Princess and Graphene doubled up at Bath before Master Carpenter ran away to Listed success in the Heron Stakes at Sandown.
Master Carpenter has been the yard's flag bearer so far in 2014, surprising us all by finishing third in the Greenham as an 80/1 shot, staying on strongly behind Kingman and Night Of Thunder, form boosted when they filled first and second in the 2,000 Guineas. Stepped up to ten furlongs, he showed that was no fluke by finishing third in the Sandown Classic Trial on heavy ground and then runner-up to Pinzolo on quick ground at Newmarket. We felt that he did not quite see out the ten furlongs there and a mile with ease in the ground may prove to be his optimum conditions, yet all three that have beaten him over ten furlongs are still engaged in next week's Derby.
Although he has had a busy start to the season, with all the rain that fell over the Bank Holiday weekend, we felt we had to run again, this time in the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown's high profile Brigadier Gerard evening meeting. Admittedly we were slightly concerned about the heavy ground, as Ryan felt he did not really handle similar conditions in the Classic Trial. Although Master Carpenter had by far the best form going into the race, his rivals were unexposed and could have been anything and he was sent off third favourite at 3/1. Settled out the back by Ryan Moore, the running style which seems to suit him best, the field went extremely wide down the back straight and round the home bend. Ryan Moore is not Champion Jockey and best in the world for no reason and sensing that the other jockeys were needlessly wasting ground, went round the inside, saving plenty of ground and was in front when joining his four rivals three furlongs from home. Asked to quicken inside the final two, Master Carpenter rapidly pulled away from the opposition to record a seven length success. While the move by Ryan certainly aided Master Carpenter, we still feel that he was good enough to have won the race even if he had followed the others but it was by far the easiest race he has had this year and will have done his confidence the world of good. Plans are extremely fluid, mainly due to the fact we would like to run him where there is ease in the ground but he will probably step back into Group 3 company and deserves more success.
This was a first Black-Type success for the Links Partnership, long time supporters of the yard and without such loyal owners, we could not stay involved in the game, While Cheveley Park Stud, who acquired a half-share in him before Royal Ascot last year, have had many Black-type successes, it was very important for the yard to do well for such a high profile owner and hopefully a high-class horse like Master Carpenter will get some more owners into the yard.
While the double at Bath was highly rewarding for the yard as well. Ivors Princess is a tricky mare, who recorded her fourth career success in the 1m4f handicap, showing a surprising amount of stamina as her three previous successes came over six and seven furlongs. However, she clearly enjoyed the steadier pace and was on a going day. She will be capable of winning again, especially in the plethora of fillies races that are open to her over ten to twelve furlongs. Graphene had been very disappointing in three runs on the AW so we were not sure what to expect returned to turf on his fifth start. Slowly away, he enjoyed the strong early pace which spread out the field and was moving into contention when slipping on the home bend. Sean Levey did extremely well to stay on board but it looked as if his chance had gone. However, he did not lose much momentum and hit the front inside the final furlong to win a shade cosily. He is at the right end of the handicap, looks as if he will stay much further and should provide some fun for his owners this season.
We also had impressive Warwick winner Bonnie Grey at Sandown in the National Stakes and we were hoping for a big run. However, the ground was much softer than on her debut and she was not travelling from an early stage, not helped by being stuck in the middle of the track. She still stayed on nicely for fourth, certainly was not disgraced and she will probably step up to six furlongs. It is likely she will miss Royal Ascot and head to a Listed race at Newmarket. While Indaria was not disgraced when finishing fourth on her debut at Bath and showed she has ability, with the benefit of experience a race should certainly come her way.
Master Carpenter has been the yard's flag bearer so far in 2014, surprising us all by finishing third in the Greenham as an 80/1 shot, staying on strongly behind Kingman and Night Of Thunder, form boosted when they filled first and second in the 2,000 Guineas. Stepped up to ten furlongs, he showed that was no fluke by finishing third in the Sandown Classic Trial on heavy ground and then runner-up to Pinzolo on quick ground at Newmarket. We felt that he did not quite see out the ten furlongs there and a mile with ease in the ground may prove to be his optimum conditions, yet all three that have beaten him over ten furlongs are still engaged in next week's Derby.
Although he has had a busy start to the season, with all the rain that fell over the Bank Holiday weekend, we felt we had to run again, this time in the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown's high profile Brigadier Gerard evening meeting. Admittedly we were slightly concerned about the heavy ground, as Ryan felt he did not really handle similar conditions in the Classic Trial. Although Master Carpenter had by far the best form going into the race, his rivals were unexposed and could have been anything and he was sent off third favourite at 3/1. Settled out the back by Ryan Moore, the running style which seems to suit him best, the field went extremely wide down the back straight and round the home bend. Ryan Moore is not Champion Jockey and best in the world for no reason and sensing that the other jockeys were needlessly wasting ground, went round the inside, saving plenty of ground and was in front when joining his four rivals three furlongs from home. Asked to quicken inside the final two, Master Carpenter rapidly pulled away from the opposition to record a seven length success. While the move by Ryan certainly aided Master Carpenter, we still feel that he was good enough to have won the race even if he had followed the others but it was by far the easiest race he has had this year and will have done his confidence the world of good. Plans are extremely fluid, mainly due to the fact we would like to run him where there is ease in the ground but he will probably step back into Group 3 company and deserves more success.
This was a first Black-Type success for the Links Partnership, long time supporters of the yard and without such loyal owners, we could not stay involved in the game, While Cheveley Park Stud, who acquired a half-share in him before Royal Ascot last year, have had many Black-type successes, it was very important for the yard to do well for such a high profile owner and hopefully a high-class horse like Master Carpenter will get some more owners into the yard.
While the double at Bath was highly rewarding for the yard as well. Ivors Princess is a tricky mare, who recorded her fourth career success in the 1m4f handicap, showing a surprising amount of stamina as her three previous successes came over six and seven furlongs. However, she clearly enjoyed the steadier pace and was on a going day. She will be capable of winning again, especially in the plethora of fillies races that are open to her over ten to twelve furlongs. Graphene had been very disappointing in three runs on the AW so we were not sure what to expect returned to turf on his fifth start. Slowly away, he enjoyed the strong early pace which spread out the field and was moving into contention when slipping on the home bend. Sean Levey did extremely well to stay on board but it looked as if his chance had gone. However, he did not lose much momentum and hit the front inside the final furlong to win a shade cosily. He is at the right end of the handicap, looks as if he will stay much further and should provide some fun for his owners this season.
We also had impressive Warwick winner Bonnie Grey at Sandown in the National Stakes and we were hoping for a big run. However, the ground was much softer than on her debut and she was not travelling from an early stage, not helped by being stuck in the middle of the track. She still stayed on nicely for fourth, certainly was not disgraced and she will probably step up to six furlongs. It is likely she will miss Royal Ascot and head to a Listed race at Newmarket. While Indaria was not disgraced when finishing fourth on her debut at Bath and showed she has ability, with the benefit of experience a race should certainly come her way.
Monday, 3 March 2014
More Places!
Well we are now into March and we are still awaiting that elusive first winner of 2014 but the horses are running well with a 50% place strike rate. We are generally quiet during the winter months with a reduced string just ticking over but prize money wise, this looks set to be our best ever AW season, with over £28,000 in the bag. So far we have had twenty runners in 2014, racked up six seconds, two thirds and two fourths and £8,298, although it is certainly frustrating that one of those six seconds was not a winner!
Dance continues in good form on the AW this winter, making the running at Kempton on Thursday evening before being overcome by a 66/1 shot that had shown no worthwhile form in three months! However, she is certainly running well and the family improve with age so she should be winning soon. The waterlogged gallop, due to the never ending rain so far in 2014, meant that Wyndham Wave probably needed the run more than we thought on the same evening. The night before a slow pace was unsuitable for Ivors Princess but she ran a creditable race in fourth. The most important thing is that was three consistent efforts in a row on the polytrack at Kempton and she remains well handicapped.
Dance continues in good form on the AW this winter, making the running at Kempton on Thursday evening before being overcome by a 66/1 shot that had shown no worthwhile form in three months! However, she is certainly running well and the family improve with age so she should be winning soon. The waterlogged gallop, due to the never ending rain so far in 2014, meant that Wyndham Wave probably needed the run more than we thought on the same evening. The night before a slow pace was unsuitable for Ivors Princess but she ran a creditable race in fourth. The most important thing is that was three consistent efforts in a row on the polytrack at Kempton and she remains well handicapped.
Monday, 20 January 2014
Four Seconds In 2014 Already
The horses have generally started 2014 in good form but we have not had much luck so far with four seconds from nine runners! Hopefully it will not be long before we are off the mark.
Ice Tres has resumed from a summer break in good form and has been second on two occasions at Wolverhampton, both times she has probably hit the front too soon and been nabbed near the line. She was slightly disappointing at Lingfield on Friday but the drop back to ten furlongs may not have suited and the race could have come too soon.
Although she did not like Southwell, Ivor's Princess showed that her 20/1 Kempton success in December was no fluke when runner-up returned to the Sunbury venue under a strong ride from Luke Morris.
It looked as if we had found an ideal opportunity for Icebuster in a five runner two mile handicap at Kempton on Wednesday, but a concern over two miles was whether he would settle if there was no pace on. Sadly he was far too keen and took off with Pat with a circuit to go. Despite having a clear lead entering the home straight, he tired in the final two furlongs as his stamina gave out but he still did enough to hold on for second. He is certainly capable of winning off his current mark granted a strong pace, which is rare on the polytrack.
After unseating early on her hurdling debut and with the ground so soft we decided to return Dance to the AW. She struggled in some strong flat maidens in the summer but was placed in three bumpers and she ran a nice race to stay on for second, having been left short of room when the pace quickened. She is certainly capable of winning a race, whether she can emulate her half-sister Money Money Money and rack up five in one year we're not so sure but she has just as good an attitude!
Ice Tres has resumed from a summer break in good form and has been second on two occasions at Wolverhampton, both times she has probably hit the front too soon and been nabbed near the line. She was slightly disappointing at Lingfield on Friday but the drop back to ten furlongs may not have suited and the race could have come too soon.
Although she did not like Southwell, Ivor's Princess showed that her 20/1 Kempton success in December was no fluke when runner-up returned to the Sunbury venue under a strong ride from Luke Morris.
It looked as if we had found an ideal opportunity for Icebuster in a five runner two mile handicap at Kempton on Wednesday, but a concern over two miles was whether he would settle if there was no pace on. Sadly he was far too keen and took off with Pat with a circuit to go. Despite having a clear lead entering the home straight, he tired in the final two furlongs as his stamina gave out but he still did enough to hold on for second. He is certainly capable of winning off his current mark granted a strong pace, which is rare on the polytrack.
After unseating early on her hurdling debut and with the ground so soft we decided to return Dance to the AW. She struggled in some strong flat maidens in the summer but was placed in three bumpers and she ran a nice race to stay on for second, having been left short of room when the pace quickened. She is certainly capable of winning a race, whether she can emulate her half-sister Money Money Money and rack up five in one year we're not so sure but she has just as good an attitude!
Friday, 6 December 2013
Ivor's Secures Win Number 20 In 2013
It wasn't a bad evening at Kempton with all three representatives running solid races and bringing some prize money back to Devon. Ivors Princess finally showed some sparkle down to Class 6 company and despite making Sean Levey, riding a treble on the card, work very hard in the early stages, she ran out a cosy winner. She went up 21lbs for winning two races last year and struggled with the handicapper as she was forced to run out of her grade and completley lost her confidence. She missed the first half of this season but showed promise when third at Salisbury but two disappointing efforts meant she was on her last Flat chance on Wednesday evening. Hopefully with confidence boosted, she can exploit what is now a lenient handicap mark.
There was no pace on for Icebuster in the London Middle Distance qualifier and he was very keen under Shelly Birkett. There was nothing Shelly could do but sit and suffer from an inside draw and she did well to extricate him wide when the sprint started for home entering the home straight. Third was still a good effort in the circumstances and he will get into next week's £70,000 Final. With a field of sixteen, there should be some pace and both he and Shavansky have a good chance of earning some decent prize money.
Ice Tres made a promising return to the track, breaking on terms and wasn't keen in the early stages under David Probert. The lack of a recent run told as she weakened into fourth in the final furlong but it was a solid effort and she should remain competitive in that grade this winter.
There was no pace on for Icebuster in the London Middle Distance qualifier and he was very keen under Shelly Birkett. There was nothing Shelly could do but sit and suffer from an inside draw and she did well to extricate him wide when the sprint started for home entering the home straight. Third was still a good effort in the circumstances and he will get into next week's £70,000 Final. With a field of sixteen, there should be some pace and both he and Shavansky have a good chance of earning some decent prize money.
Ice Tres made a promising return to the track, breaking on terms and wasn't keen in the early stages under David Probert. The lack of a recent run told as she weakened into fourth in the final furlong but it was a solid effort and she should remain competitive in that grade this winter.
Tuesday, 3 December 2013
Another Qualifier For Buster
With Icebuster dropping to 84, he isn't certain to get in the £70,000 London Middle Distance Final so he goes for the final qualifier at Kempton on Wednesday evening. He has been extremely consistent this season, posting RPR's of 87-92 on ten of his twelve starts this season. However, he is probably struggling with the handicapper, remains four pounds higher than his Haydock success and the fact that he is best off a strong pace doesn't make things easy. However, he has useful five pound claimer Shelly Birket (won on Shavansky) on board and with only seven runners, he won't be too far off the pace even if sitting last, a scenario which has seen numerous good efforts this year. Hopefully he will go pretty close tomorrow and it will be great if we can have two horses in the final.
Despite the fact we are very quiet at the minute, we also have two other runners at Kempton on Wednesday. Ice Tres returns from a 157 day absence in the first division of the twelve furlong handicap. She blew her chance with slow starts on her most recent outings so we gave her the summer off. If she returns in a better frame of mind, she is very well handicapped off 50, having placed off a five pound higher mark on hndicap debut at Wolverhampton.
Ivors Princess has been disappointing over the last eighteen months, although there were signs of a rivival when third at Salisbury and fifth at Chepstow this autumn. She is incredibly well handicapped, off a mark 13lb lower than her last win and eight pound lower than the Salisbury third. She had little chance held up off a steady pace last time and dropped into Class 6 Company, it would be no surprise if she bounced back.
Despite the fact we are very quiet at the minute, we also have two other runners at Kempton on Wednesday. Ice Tres returns from a 157 day absence in the first division of the twelve furlong handicap. She blew her chance with slow starts on her most recent outings so we gave her the summer off. If she returns in a better frame of mind, she is very well handicapped off 50, having placed off a five pound higher mark on hndicap debut at Wolverhampton.
Ivors Princess has been disappointing over the last eighteen months, although there were signs of a rivival when third at Salisbury and fifth at Chepstow this autumn. She is incredibly well handicapped, off a mark 13lb lower than her last win and eight pound lower than the Salisbury third. She had little chance held up off a steady pace last time and dropped into Class 6 Company, it would be no surprise if she bounced back.
Monday, 19 August 2013
Plenty More Places!
A busy week and lots of solid performances from the horses meant we picked up plenty of place money. At Nottingham, Dovils Duel certainly enjoyed the slight drop in grade and he was the closest we got to a winner as he stayed on strongly to claim second in the nursery. It was a career best effort from the Clodovil gelding and with the penny starting to drop, it shouldn't be long before he's in the winners enclosure.
It was a case of 'thirditus' for the rest of the week. Madame Kintyre broke on terms and ran her best race of the season when third at Ffos Las, enjoying the soft ground and hopefully we can find a small race for her in the coming weeks. Meanwhile at Salisbury, Ivor's Princess ran her best race for over a year when finishing third in the apprentice race. She went up 18lbs (21 if you take in Sean Levey's claim) for winning twice early last year and struggled thereafter. She is back to a winning mark and will appreciate some easy ground in the autumn.
Tough two-year-old Urban Dreamer has been racking up more place money as we bid for that elusive £10,000 Racing Post Bonus and finished third at both Chepstow on Thursday and Pontefract Sunday. He's running up to his mark of 72 and it may be that we try for a nursery next time, he certainly deserves to win a race.
It was a case of 'thirditus' for the rest of the week. Madame Kintyre broke on terms and ran her best race of the season when third at Ffos Las, enjoying the soft ground and hopefully we can find a small race for her in the coming weeks. Meanwhile at Salisbury, Ivor's Princess ran her best race for over a year when finishing third in the apprentice race. She went up 18lbs (21 if you take in Sean Levey's claim) for winning twice early last year and struggled thereafter. She is back to a winning mark and will appreciate some easy ground in the autumn.
Tough two-year-old Urban Dreamer has been racking up more place money as we bid for that elusive £10,000 Racing Post Bonus and finished third at both Chepstow on Thursday and Pontefract Sunday. He's running up to his mark of 72 and it may be that we try for a nursery next time, he certainly deserves to win a race.
Tuesday, 13 August 2013
Drop In Grade To Help Dovils?
After posting a career best when finishing third at Lingfield three weeks ago, we were hoping Dovils Duel had turned the corner as he looked a slightly unlucky loser as he flashed home inside the final furlong. Unfortunately he ran too keen stepped up to seven furlongs at Newbury and he still isn't producing his homework on the track. However, he drops back to six furlongs at Nottingham, down in grade and has a stronger jockey with Andrea able to do the weight. Let's hope this helps as he definitely has the ability to win races and a bold show certainly wouldn't surprise.
There is a valuable two day meeting at Salisbury on Wednesday and Thursday and we're represented on both days. On Wednesday, Ivor's Princess returns to the track where she won twice last season and has first-time cheekpieces on in a bid to rediscover some form. It's a weak apprentice race and although the ground will be quicker than ideal, she's capable of going close. On Thursday, Seaham also bids to return to form having disappointed at Chepstow last time. The undulations probably didn't suit and he has useful form at Salisbury, the best on offer in fact and although he gives weight to some unexposed fillies, it's a race in which he should go close.
We also cross the bridge into Wales on Wednesday and Thursday with runners at both Ffos Las and Chepstow. Madame Kintyre makes a quick return to Ffos Las having blown a winnable chance when trying to break through the stalls last week. Her earlier effort when only beaten three lengths at the track gives her every chance if she's on best behaviour. On Thursday, the luckless Urban Dreamer bids to land a bonus maiden, having finished runner-up four times already in his short career. He hasn't done much wrong, he was nailed on the line at Ffos Las two weeks ago and proven experience of Chepstow's unique undulations will stand him in good stead.
There is a valuable two day meeting at Salisbury on Wednesday and Thursday and we're represented on both days. On Wednesday, Ivor's Princess returns to the track where she won twice last season and has first-time cheekpieces on in a bid to rediscover some form. It's a weak apprentice race and although the ground will be quicker than ideal, she's capable of going close. On Thursday, Seaham also bids to return to form having disappointed at Chepstow last time. The undulations probably didn't suit and he has useful form at Salisbury, the best on offer in fact and although he gives weight to some unexposed fillies, it's a race in which he should go close.
We also cross the bridge into Wales on Wednesday and Thursday with runners at both Ffos Las and Chepstow. Madame Kintyre makes a quick return to Ffos Las having blown a winnable chance when trying to break through the stalls last week. Her earlier effort when only beaten three lengths at the track gives her every chance if she's on best behaviour. On Thursday, the luckless Urban Dreamer bids to land a bonus maiden, having finished runner-up four times already in his short career. He hasn't done much wrong, he was nailed on the line at Ffos Las two weeks ago and proven experience of Chepstow's unique undulations will stand him in good stead.
Tuesday, 23 July 2013
Four At Ffos Las
It's a busy Tuesday evening at Ffos Las, with four runners at the Welsh track, although all four would probably be happier if some of the heavy rain showers hit the track. We have two in the fillies sprint, with both Ivors Princess and Madame Kintyre needing to find some form. Ivors Princess made a great start to her three-year-old career, winning her first two starts with ease at Salisbury but was absolutely hammered by the handicapper as she went up a whopping 18lbs. She then lost her confidence when racing in a higher grade and had a setback in the spring which has delayed her return to the track. Hopefully the smaller field will help her gain some confidence but she will probably strip fitter for the outing. Madame Kintyre has had a lot of problems since denied by a short-head at Windsor in June and although well handicapped, she has completely lost her way. Hopefully the small field will also help her gain some confidence as if returning to form she could certainly go very close but we will be happy if she just gets involved. Sweet Alabama went off too hard in first-time blinkers when fourth at Leicester, having looked likely to win entering the final furlong, which showed she's certainly capable of winning a race. She hasn't repeated the form on two subsequent starts and would prefer some rain today but off a light weight, she's capable of placing at least. Gaelic Ice has been in good form since the hood was applied, having a troubled run when second at Windsor and then got stuck a little wide when third stepped up to twelve furlongs at Ffos Las last time. Dropped into a weak 0-55 handicap, she should go very close and hopefully she gets off the mark as we could do with a winner, as we have found ourselves on the cold list, despite most of the horses running well recently.
Progressive three-year-old Astrum runs on the AW at Lingfield on Wednesday and although we would prefer turf, there are only eight runners and hopefully the weather isn't quite as hot as it will help reduce the kickback, which is particularly bad in the summer. As long as he handles the AW, he should go very close as it doesn't look the strongest of races and he was unlucky not to get his third win of the season when second at Pontefract last time as he was left with too much to do, having been hampered at the start. We also have Into The Wind at Sandown in the evening, the obvious question mark against her is the rise in grade as she is at her most competitive when racing at Class 6 level. However, she is progressing with age and her chance would be greatly increased if the thunderstorms hit Sandown as she loves soft ground. She had too much ground to make up last time and is better in smaller fields so she certainly won't be disgraced.
Progressive three-year-old Astrum runs on the AW at Lingfield on Wednesday and although we would prefer turf, there are only eight runners and hopefully the weather isn't quite as hot as it will help reduce the kickback, which is particularly bad in the summer. As long as he handles the AW, he should go very close as it doesn't look the strongest of races and he was unlucky not to get his third win of the season when second at Pontefract last time as he was left with too much to do, having been hampered at the start. We also have Into The Wind at Sandown in the evening, the obvious question mark against her is the rise in grade as she is at her most competitive when racing at Class 6 level. However, she is progressing with age and her chance would be greatly increased if the thunderstorms hit Sandown as she loves soft ground. She had too much ground to make up last time and is better in smaller fields so she certainly won't be disgraced.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)