I couldn’t be happier with the way the horses are running and we all enjoyed a great day at Newmarket last Saturday when the brilliant Billesdon Brook won the Sun Chariot Stakes. That was her second Group One win, both of them over the same course and distance, and I said to her owners beforehand that I fancied her chances more in the Sun Chariot than I did in the 1000 Guineas and look what happened there – so she was a certainty last week! Joking aside, it was a brave call for Jeanette McCreery and the rest of the gang to keep her in training as a four-year-old but their faith was rewarded as she’s now won three times this season. I’m not sure what the plan will be but she has come out of Newmarket in great form and we’ll all sit down and have a chat about what the future holds.
I’m pleased to report that Raymond Tusk and Beat Le Bon have both arrived in Australia in good form and according to my staff out there, they handled the long journey very well. Raymond’s owners, Middleham Park Racing, turned down a lot of interest in him from the Southern Hemisphere after the Ebor but decided to go for a crack at the race themselves so they deserve great credit for being so brave! He’s in the Caulfield Cup and we’re not sure if he needs to run in that to be guaranteed a run the Melbourne Cup, which is the main objective.
Everybody loves Raymond, don’t they? Well here’s an update from our man @rhannonracing as @MprUpdates Raymond Tusk prepares for a tilt at the @melbournecup @FlemingtonVRC next month! https://t.co/zhdI1cxN0d pic.twitter.com/085qW5ZQ0l
— Unibet Racing (@UnibetRacing) October 11, 2019
Tim and Tom Palin have done a fantastic job building up Middleham Park Racing to what it is now and I wish them and all their shareholders the very best of luck in their mission to win the ‘Race that Stops a Nation’. I’ve just been reliably informed that he’s 20/1 with Unibet for both races which could be decent value bearing in mind if he was trained by a ‘local’ trainer his price might be a lot shorter! Beat Le Bon will take his chance in the inaugural running of the ‘Golden Eagle’ which is a brand new race at Rosehill for (Southern Hemisphere) four-year-olds (3yo northern hemisphere) over 1500m (7 ½ f). It’s worth a whopping £4.1 million pounds with £2.2 million going to the winner so it’s definitely a race worth running in and there’s prize money right the way done to 10th place. Obviously, to win a race like that out there would be fantastic and would also add great value to Beat Le Bon’s value as a potential stallion. They always go a good gallop in those big Australian races which will really suit him as he loves to come from off a good pace and I’m looking forward to the race on November 2nd – but you’ll have to get up early if you want to watch it!
A reasonably quiet Saturday with just seven runners representing us across thee meetings.
NEWMARKET
1:45 Nursery
What An Angel (Sean Levey)
I’m not making excuses for him but he didn’t get the best of runs at Newmarket last time and was eventually eased by Ryan (Moore) although it’s fair to say he probably wouldn’t have won. He’s down to a mark of 79 now and we’re going back to seven furlongs but on what he’s shown so far I’m under no illusions that he needs to improve plenty.
3:00 G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes
Mystery Power (Oisin Murphy)
I thought he’d win the Mill Reef at Newbury last time but he got caught a little outpaced by the winner who actually looks a very smart colt. The step back up to seven furlongs will suit (he’s 2/3 over the trip) and something’s got to finish second to Pinatubo so I hope it’s us!
YORK
4:25 Novice Stakes
Big Wing (Dane O’Neill)
He’s a big strong colt by Free Eagle who has taken plenty of time to come to hand but is ready to go now and his work suggests he’s more than capable. He’ll definitely come on for the run but is a horse with a bright future and hopefully, he can run a solid race.
Gold Desert (Tom Marquand)
He ran a sound race on debut at Sandown and has definitely improved a lot since then. The step down to seven furlongs won’t be an issue as he’s got plenty of pace and I fancy him to go very close
WOLVERHAMPTON
7:30 Flat
Wild Thunder (Tom Marquand)
On form, he certainly sets the standard and is drawn well in one. He likes the All-Weather and I’d like to think he’s more than capable of making his presence felt.
Miraz (Rossa Ryan)
He’s a smart colt by Kodiac who has done everything we’ve asked in his work. This is a very realistic starting point and hopefully, he can put up an encouraging display.
8:00 Handicap
Entertaining (Tom Marquand)
He’s been blighted with little niggling problems which has meant he’s not been able to run as much as we’d like but he’s had a nice break since July so arrives here a fresh horse, unlike many in the race. Ratings-wise there’s hardly anything separating the whole field so it’s fiercely competitive but hopefully that break will have done him the world of good and with a bit of luck he can go close
