Princess of Orange scoots up at Lingfield

Tuesday, 06 September 2011

Colin Joseph's first horse, the Dutch Art filly, Princess of Orange, fulfilled her potential by absolutely hacking up at Lingfield this afternoon.  She had run well at Windsor first time out and was certainly the best horse in the race last time out when going straight at the bend on the all weather at Lingfield and finishing second.  Today she put that experience to good use and showed what she could really do under jockey Ted Durcan.  Ted rode her with plenty of confidence as always, she had a great draw under the favoured stands rail, led from the start and never saw another horse, winning eased down.  Rae will see what the handicapper does before deciding on her next race.  Well done to Sam Davis who looks after and rides her (Sam used to look after Serious Attitude) and well done to Colin on his first winner.

News update

Sunday, 28 August 2011

It has been a frustrating sort of week for runners with the usual will it/will it not rain conundrum (made worse than usual when the race you want to run in is as far away as Ffos Las); the odd bit of uninspired riding and some plain bad luck (I mean Princess of Orange going straight on rather than round the bend at Lingfield).  With a bit of luck going our way we could have ended the week with a couple more winners to add to the tally, but c'est la vie unfortunately.

Some of the two year olds that we have not yet seen on a racecourse are progressing nicely and ought - all being well - to be ready in the next month.  These include Future Wonder, Shamakat, Million Faces, Emperor's Waltz and Headline News, so fingers crossed that nothing goes wrong between now and their intended debuts.

The Newmarket Town Plate took place at the July course yesterday and 'our' jockey, William Gittus of Jockey Club Estates, finished a creditable fourth on Red Anthem, riding in aid of Help for Heroes and Racing Welfare.  William was riding out here for a month earlier in the year in his quest to learn to ride a racehorse for the race.  Montecristo came out of retirement briefly and did a great job, as ever.  To see William riding Monte and read more about his challenge see  http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=JCE.  Many congratulations to William.  It was a huge ask to lose two stone then learn to ride and ride in the race within six months or so.  A lot of determination and dedication was called for and William has no shortage of that.  Well done.

Mirza scores in grand style

Saturday, 06 August 2011

Chris and Lesley Mills' four year old Mirza, out of foundation mare Millyant, won this afternoon at Haydock in convincing style under Adam Kirby.  Absolutely key to this horse is the ground - he must have it soft - and he has been a long time waiting for his ideal conditions (6 furlongs on soft ground).  Today he got them and showed everyone what he can do when things go right.

Mirza is a lovely little horse, a great character and yard favourite.  He looked held in a pocket with 2 furlongs left to run, but jockey Adam Kirby weaved through horses into the clear and Mirza showed a brilliant turn of foot to come clear of the field.  Rae and Chris will pick the ground carefully and there could be more to come from him.

Chris and Lesley are in the Scillies on holiday but youngest son Robbie was on hand to report back this family success.  Well done to Robbie and Farman who looks after him.

Conciliatory wins feature at Brighton

Wednesday, 03 August 2011

Kirsten Rausing's cleverly named grey filly, Conciliatory, won her first race of 2011 at Brighton today in the feature mile contest on the opening day of the Brighton festival under jockey Adam Bechizza claiming three pounds.  Conciliatory (Cozzene - Condoleeza) has always shown plenty of ability, although was perhaps a little over-faced in the Listed contests she contested earlier in the year, and possibly benefited from the first time application of an enormous sheepskin noseband and cheekpieces today.  Hopefully she will continue to show this sort of improvement.

Well done Kirsten, Adam and Conciliatory's most recent home jockey Tony Whelan.

Of the other two runners today, Rae reports that Border Abby went too fast early on to finish her race off at Newcastle; and Alice Rose did not handle the firm ground at Yarmouth as well as he had hoped she would.  All the same Alice ran a creditable, and fairly close, third.

Just the one runner tomorrow, Cool Water Oasis at Chepstow - going all that way in search of soft ground.  Mirza has also been declared for Friday at Newmarket, more in hope than expectation of the heavy rain that is forecast.

After an enormous storm threatening Newmarket this evening it has fizzled out into no more than a short but heavy shower.

Roses continue to bloom for Eamonn

Friday, 29 July 2011

On Friday both Albany Rose and Lastroseofsummer ran with great credit, the first named finishing a very honourable second in a handicap at Goodwood, dealing with a 24lb rise in the handicap; and the other Rosie doing one better at Bath, stretching out the field from the front under Martin Lane.  Lastroseofsummer is a lovely filly who is already popular with everyone here and the further her winning spree continues (now three on the trot, counting one over hurdles) the more popular she is likely to become!

Owner Eamonn Duggan has now had two horses win three races on the trot this year, so a heavy weight of expectation is falling on Rose of Sarratt and My Colleen, his other two horses...

Counting from yesterday every runner we have had in the last 14 days (excepting poor old Mirza for whom the ground was too firm at Ascot) has been in the first three and, considering we have as yet had just one two year old run, you have to be pleased with eleven winners at this stage.

Princess of Orange (2 year old Dutch Art - Radiate) makes her debut at Windsor tomorrow evening for owner Colin Joseph.