Introduction
A busy week and some new face to the yard. Last year at Ascot sales we spent £20,400 on three horses, this year we have spent slightly less on another three. Last year’s trio set quite a benchmark and so the new additions have quite a way to go to catch those seven winners and a further 15 places.
Round Up of runners
Seven runners were sent out to six different meetings, collecting two more placed efforts for the yard.
Sigrid Nansen ran well in what turned out to be a blanket finish at Lingfield, the first seven being covered by less than 2 lengths. Sigrid finished fifth, beaten a length and was produced from off the pace to try and run down the leader in the closing stages. Despite finishing well, she ran out of time to real in the winner though again has run well. She has been schooled over the poles this week and we may look at a dual purpose challenge come the future.
O Maonlai was turned around quickly to run at Stratford on the final hunter chase meeting of the year. We knew the race was coming too quickly and the trip unfavourable, but it was another opportunity for the improving Tamby Welch to have another ride and O Maonlai will now be put away for the rest of the summer.
Gendarme defied his inflated price to run a game race and put a challenge in to the market leaders at Brighton. This was his eighth run for us and he has only finished outside the top four twice. It was his first attempt in a class four for us, hence his price, and he ran with credit to take the lead up with three furlongs to run, but the final rise caught him out and the first two soon went past. As said he has been a useful purchase, and hopefully we can continue to maintain his 75% place strike rate.
Diligent ran an ok race at Southwell on Tuesday, though after his last run we were rather hopeful. He is a classic French horse, preferring to fiddle his strides before a fence, but is gorgeous to look at. He ran well up the inside for most of the trip and was hard on the bridle for most of the way though turning in a small mistake just took the wind out of him and he faded in the closing stages. He will continue to run this summer and will have his success sooner or later.
We sent two runners to our local summer track Newton Abbot, though sadly no wins this time round. Thahab Ifraj was back over hurdles, yet he never managed to make an impression on the affair and ran a quiet race. Chasing Headlights collected the second of the two placed efforts this week with a fourth. He went on well to beat the field though was lacking the toe of the front two who were able to pull away.
Gang Warfare closed the week at Ripon, coming sixth at the expense of carrying top weight. Annoyingly he ran on an off day, lumbering eventually out of the stalls and giving himself plenty to do to get back in the affair. Ultimately this mistake proved costly and he soon drifted away from the group.
Ascot Sales
As emphasises last years’ trio of Blackwater Bramble, Cry Wolf and Compton Abbey set the bar for this year’s guys to attain. It was a good sale and I am happy with our three purchases, all of which have existing marks on the flat.
Kafeel: An eight year old gelding from Gary Moore brought for £2,500. He was beaten on his last start 2 ½ lengths by Waqt, with the second Maazael beaten 3 ¾ lengths by De Little Engine on his next start. Kaffel is currently on a mark of 56, eight pounds lower than his most recent win in 2018. He is fit and ready to go and holds entries immediately.
Sarasota: A four year old filly from Jamie Osbourne’s was brought for £6,000. She has a mark of 61 on the All Weather and is another ready to go. She is a sprinter with her best run coming over seven furlongs and shares similarities to Dee Little Engine who also came from this yard.
War Drums: A five year old gelding brought for £4,500 from Paul Webbers’, has had two starts over hurdles and a mark of 71 on the flat. I think he is a steal for that price and is another one ready to go. We will probably revert to the flat for the time being and he may be slightly above his mark at the moment, but one that could be versatile between a mile four and two miles.
Statistical Summary
Jumps 19/20
Earnings - £9,990
Wins - 1
Top 4 finishes – 8/17 (47.06%)
Flat 19
Earnings - £102,356
Wins – 13
Top 4 finishes –57/138 (41.3%)
Year 2019
Earnings - £135,959
Wins - 15
Top 4 finishes – 82/211 (38.86%)
Kafeel
Dunnitalls