A nice start to the year was reinforced by Craven and Greenham week, with some classic potential on show and the older horses putting their best feet forward. At Newmarket we saw STEEL OF MADRID take the Group 3 Earl Of Sefton Stakes in good style having been slightly hit and miss last season. ‘He has really come to himself as a four year old and last year was a bit of a fact finding mission. He won the Listed Fairway Stakes at Newmarket which is why we thought we better come back to the scene of the crime. There are plenty of options for him including the Brigadier Gerald Stakes at Sandown next month. Pat got off and said he would have speed for a mile but I also think that now he is stronger he may be able to stretch out to the mile and a half.’
LARCHMONT LAD was a classic contender on show at the Craven Meeting and didn’t do a huge amount wrong. ‘He was drawn the wrong side and had nothing to give him a toe into the race. He was right there at the furlong pole before getting tired late on. I would expect a much bolder showing in the Guineas.’
Greenham day on Saturday was very exciting for the team as we saw the seasonal reappearance of BARNEY ROY in the feature race. He was the impressive winner of a Haydock Maiden at the back end of last year and was subsequently snapped up by Godolphin. He came to the Greenham with plenty of potential and asserted his authority in style. ‘He has always been a very nice horse and appears to have matured over the winter. I have waited for this day for a long time and it’s such a relief that he could win like that. He will now head straight to the Guineas in a fortnight and has put himself right in the market for the race.’
The two year olds are starting to take shape and the son of Red Jazz, MUTANAASEQ, became the first winner this year. He was still very green in running but picked up well late on to collar the hot favourite of Tom Dascombe. EMBOUR was another horse to make an impressive debut finishing a solid third in the Maiden at Newbury. He should improve plenty for the experience and could be a very nice horse in the making.
We have a quieter week ahead of us before some solid action at Sandown at the weekend, where KOOL KOMPANY will be bouncing back from his win in the Listed Doncaster Mile on his last start.