Geneva Convention
With another busy day of racing coming to a close from last Saturday where there were runners across the country and even over in New York with HUMPHREY BOGART taking his place in the Belmont Derby. Although he didn’t manage to finish in the frame he wasn’t beaten far. MR SCARAMANGA running in the GR2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket coming off the back of his Chesham fourth, managed to go one better reversing the form on the well bred Cunco. At Ascot, two 2yrs got their Maiden tags removed after completing a double on the card.
We reflect on what was a good day for the team following on from BAY OF ST MALO'S success at Chepstow the evening before. ‘She has been progressing well in her last few runs and I am glad she could get her head in front for the second time this year. She is still capable of more improvement and so I will give her a bit of time before running her again.’
Straight from the Welsh border to the first at Ascot, where the well named GENEVA CONVENTION was having his second ever run having been bogged down at Salisbury on debut. He travelled well on the front end and picked up nicely when asked to win comfortably under Kieran O’Neill. ‘He is a horse we have also thought plenty of and I think he will only get better with age. He is doing this now on raw ability but next year he will be a lovely horse. There are no big plans yet for him but I will speak to the owners and probably progress to a nice nursery or conditions race.’ On the same day PAULOWNIA won nicely in the second division of the Maiden under Dane O’Neill who was returning from a long time on the sidelines through injury. ‘She is the first winner for first season sire, Nathaniel. She has shown plenty at home and has improved from her first run where she finished second at Newmarket. She won well here and looks a filly who could be picking up black type at some point this year.’ TOORMORE ran in the Summer Mile and may have found the ground went against him. ‘He has always been suited by cut in the ground and this may have been a bit firm for him. He has pulled up well and as long as there is some moisture in the ground at Goodwood, he will head to the Lennox Stakes.’
MR SCARAMANGA having run well at Royal Ascot went one better when running third in the Superlative Stakes. ‘He has improved a lot getting third in a Group two. He looks like he will appreciate the step up again to a mile and there are some nice options for him. He is a lovely type and will continue on the up hill spiral.’
State Side was the turn of Humphrey Bogart in the Gr1 Belmont Derby. He was settled towards the rear of the field and finished off nicely in the straight. He is very game whenever he runs, and he stayed on nicely with the majority of the field finishing tightly bunched. ‘He is a really genuine horse and always puts his best foot forward. He ran a nice race in America but I will bring him home and possibly look at giving him a bit of time to get over his early season excursions.’
Windsor and Chelmsford see Richard having seven runners across both cards. The best chances of the day would be WAR GLORY and FABRIC. ‘Fabric has improved since Newmarket and will appreciate the drop back to five furlongs. War Glory who has been off the track for a while is heading back to the races after winning at Wolverhampton in January. He may need the run but I could see him running a nice race.’