News

France nearly pays off

 

 

Our trip to Chantilly on Saturday evening very nearly proved an extremely profitable one.  Firstly Oliver Lury's two year old Jane's Memory beat all but the only colt in the field, El Suizo who took his record to three from three.  You can watch a reply of her race via youtube, for a direct link click here

 

A little over an hour after Jane's Memory was just touched off, the same happened to star sprinter Mirza when Son Cesio beat him by a neck. Mirza, who was conceding 6lb to the field due to last years group three success ran a galiant race in defeat. Unfortunately there is currently no link to his replay but if one surfaces we will be sure to put it on here.

Strawberries served up at Chepstow!

 

The Rae Guest Chepstow-bound Juggernaut again proved fruitful today when Australian owned Strawberriesncream got off the mark on her debut. We are now two winners from four runners at the Welsh course.

Despite her name suggesting she would enjoy sunshine, she proved that the softer going was no problem when making virtually all in the Auction Maiden over seven furlongs.

Congratulations to her Australian based owners, The Ballymore Downunder Syndicate, to Paul Moroney who purchased her for very little, to Chris Catlin who rode her and now dashes over to Windsor to ride Minalisa later tonight, to Anna who looks after her and to Ali who rides her out most days.

 

Jane's Memory a memorable winner

 

Jane's Memory, a Captain Rio filly home-bred by her owner Oliver Lury out of his own successful mare Dancing Jest and named after his late mother became our first two year old winner of 2014 at the first attempt!

Jane's Memory has been pleasing at home and has been the most forward of our two year old's this season so it's nice that Jane's Memory, who was given a lovely ride by Martin Dwyer, battled well and stuck her neck out to win at the first time of asking.  Congratulations go to Oliver Lury who has seen his filly develop from a foal, to Charlotte who looks after her and to Steve Davis who rides her most days. Hopefully there will be more to come

Benton strikes at Yarmouth

 

Trevor Benton's grey Dutch Art filly got off the mark at her first attempt in handicap company this afternoon at nearby Yarmouth.

Trevor is locally based in Ely and has three horses in the yard alongside Strike A Light with Stroll On and Tell Me Another so it was pleasing that this was the first of hopefully many winners Rae will train for Trevor.

Bought at the 2012 yearling sales for 35,000gns Rae has always had faith in this Cheveley Park bred filly but it is fair to say it has taken time for the penny to drop with her and she ran well at Warwick on her seasonal reappearance before travelling well throughout today under Chris Catlin and asserting over two furlongs out to win by a slightly comfortable neck.  Hopefully she will improve again for this win.

Congratulations to Trevor and Betty who own her, also to Nasir (pictured) who looks after her and rides her out the majority of the time.

Vive La France!

 

Cape Factor and Mirza off on a European holiday:

 

Cape Factor (right), Derek Willis' three year-old Oratorio filly who covered herself in glory last year will make her long-awaited seasonal debut in the Poule D'Essai Des Pouliches (The French 1000 Guineas) at Longchamp on Sunday.

Her return this season has been delayed due to ever drying ground, although Longchamp racecourse is currently Good to Soft with rain forecast in the lead-up to the race.

She will be partnered for the first time by William Buick after Chris Catlin encountered some 'technical' problems en-route to France.  William is a more than accomplished substitute and he will try to carry on where he left off on our other runner Mirza.  William rode him to great effect winning (dead-heating) the Group 3 Prix Du Petit Couvert at Longchamp (right) last year before encountering trouble in the Prix De L'Abbaye under a different rider.

Both Cape Factor and Mirza love soft ground so we are hopeful of good runs from both, especially as they are set to encounter their ideal conditions.

The best of luck to Derek Willis, owner of Cape Factor (famous for his success with Serious Attitude) and Chris and Lesley Mills, owner of Mirza. Also best of luck to Andrew Bubb, our travelling head-lad and Hollie Smith who will leave Newmarket in the early hours of tomorrow morning to ensure a safe and speedy trip to Paris.

The race times are as follows (UK time) and should be shown in any local bookies as well as At The Races or Racing UK (Check the Racing Post on Sunday for confirmation):

2:08pm Cape Factor - Poule D'Essai Des Pouliches

 

3:55pm Mirza - Prix Des Saint-Georges