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Belmont – Saturday 6th August 2022
On a day that it was hard to make any serious ground, this Hinchinbrook mare was an exception and obviously wasn’t reading the script. After drawing barrier 13, Taj Dyson took her to the back of the field before really unleashing from the rear of the field to win the race by a length. Considering she was just second-up, she can win a lot more races this preparation, especially if she gets the important draws.
Belmont – Saturday 30th July 2022
Ginger Flyer (Race 10)
This five-year-old mare has been in terrific form this preparation, finishing second behind some good ones in her first two runs before winning nicely on the weekend. She is ready to go up in grade now and the fact that she can handle all surfaces and runs on the pace, she will be winning more races than she loses, and I think she is due for another win this preparation.
Belmont – Saturday 16th July 2022
Black Shadow (Race 6)
Following two average displays in Group 3 company, this son of Trade Fair stepped back to benchmark 78 quality for his third-up assignment. He ran a bold race just off the leaders before being chased down by the inform Sluice Box late in the race. He still managed to beat the rest of the field by 3.5 lengths whilst carrying 58kg, so I expect a repeat effort providing he is entered for a similar grade race over the 2000m or further.
Belmont – Saturday 25th June 2022
Norich (Race 6)
This was a deep benchmark 66 race, and I think we have found the one you can follow with confidence into its next start. Having to settle to the rear of the field due to the barrier draw, the pattern was already against him as he usually races a lot closer to the speed. Upon entering the straight, jockey Troy Turner darted towards the inside to continue his bold run before being met with a backside around the 200m mark until around 110m out when he shift back out to get clear running. Up until that point, he was running the quickest splits of the race but also ran the quickest final 600m and 400m as well. The final 200m was not as good due to the interference.
Belmont – Saturday 18th June 2022
Arnie’s Boy / I’m Pretty (Race 3)
Both of these runners were unable to fight out the finish despite having plenty to give. Both runners were in prime positions in the straight but there were no gaps for them and both were not fully tested to the line when running seventh and ninth respectively. I’m Pretty was first-up, so she will have plenty to give this preparation whereas Arnie’s Boy has been in tremendous form and can secure another win before heading to the paddock.
Sweet Tea (Race 4)
I had this girl black booked after her nice trial and I thought this was too tough for her here, but to my surprise, she ran a lot better than expected. She fought really hard from the second half of the field to finish a solid fourth, against horses that have won plenty of races. Considering she is still a maiden, there is plenty of options for her to nail that first win.
Belmont – Saturday 4th June 2022
Acting God (Race 6) – (Next start: 1st)
The son of Playing God had to settle in the second half of the field after drawing a less than favourable barrier and he ended up shifting back to last on the final turn. He peeled the widest before making a massive run, finishing 1.8 lengths off the winner Savage One. His sectionals back up his performance, running the quickest splits in all sectionals from the 800m mark and the quickest last 200m of the race in 11.38. Very keen to follow him next start if he draws better.
False Statement (Race 9)
This was a massive run by the Star Witness gelding, who was another on the day that had to settle towards the rear due to a poor draw. When they hit the 200m mark, he looked like he would run outside the placings but a massive 11.25 last 200m sectional (which was the fourth fastest of the entire day) ensured him a placing, finishing under half a length from the winner in second. With a better gate next start, he will go very close.
Belmont – Saturday 28th May 2022
Vampi At Play (Race 1) – (Next start: 2nd)
Happy to side with this two-year-old daughter of Playing God who returned on Saturday against a good one in Top of the Pops. Both her career starts have ended in second placings and both horses that have beaten her are pretty good ones. She isn’t far away from a win and her return Saturday over 1200m showed not only is 1200m not an issue, but she is going to be ultra-competitive wherever she goes.
Belmont – Saturday 21st May 2022
Capo Veloce (Race 1) – (Next start: 2nd)
Loved this second-up run by the son of Demerit. He ended up no match for the returning Revitup but he sure put in a big effort, finishing second, a length off Revitup. He managed to put the remainder of the field away by four lengths which is massive, and I think he will go even better third-up. Happy to follow him wherever he goes.
Belmont – Saturday 14th May 2022
Glamour Packed (Race 4) – (Next start: 6th)
I loved the way this girl finished off her race at Belmont on the weekend, after drawing the widest gate. She settled last and came with a massive run to finish just over half a length back in fourth. Considering she was first-up over 1400m gives even more credit to the run and a similar race with a better draw should give her a winning chance next start.
The Velvet Queen (Race 5) – (Next start: 2nd)
The daughter of Universal Ruler was the favourite at Belmont in this race and she ran the race of a moral beaten. Chris Parnham took her back to last and she had to come around every horse before finishing the race off well, finishing under a length from the winner in second. The winner sat second in the run and streaked away, which shows you just how big the run was by The Velvet Queen. After two placings in this preparation, a win is on the cards.
Gun Metal Grey (Race 9) – (Next start: 2nd)
The daughter of Bradbury’s Luck ran a much more improved run here second-up, following her 3.5 length fourth at Ascot. At the 400m mark here, she was still sitting seventh and as she progressed through the straight there look to be a little hesitation by jockey Clinton Johnson-Porter as to which horse to follow in Cross Statement and Mercanto but once Mercanto took off, he followed that runner before coming off heels to make a run. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the acceleration to make it a race but she fought hard to finish under a length back in third, beating fourth by almost a length. She will be peaking next start and providing the race is suitable, she will be right in the finish.
Ascot – Saturday 7th May 2022
Lord Gannicus – (Next start: 1st) / Miss Drakova – (Next start: 2nd) (Race 3)
There are two runners I liked in the two-year-old race in the afternoon. Lord Gannicus and Miss Drakova both settled at the rear of the field before taking off at relatively the same time to try and chase down the eventual winner and talented filly Tiffany Street. They were unable to run down the winner but managed to finish 0.5 of a length and 0.8 of a length respectively. Lord Gannicus will improve nicely from that run being his debut and is destined for better things over further. Miss Drakova has improved from her first-up run and third-up over 1200m or further will suit her down to the ground.
Ascot – Saturday 30th April 2022
Buzzoom (Race 7)
We were really confident in him turning the tables on Amasenus in this event but it wasn’t meant to be. He looked really plain in the run and didn’t look like the horse from the start prior, as he finished 4.75 lengths off the winner, back in sixth. Post-race it was discovered he was suffering from cardiac arrhythmia, and that was the excuse for his poor run. On that note, just put a line through the run and we will likely be with him to return to his best next start.
Ascot – Saturday 23rd April 2022
Chantorque (Race 7)
This girl was on the quick backup from the Saturday prior, and being back in grade, they were expecting a solid run from her, and she delivered. She was second last on the turn, about four to five lengths off them before really picking up over the final 100m to get within a quarter of a length of the eventual winner. She was only fourth-up on Saturday so she would be at peak fitness now, and needs a race with a bit of pace in a similar grade over the same distance.
Lord Lonsdale (Race 8) – (Next start: 6th)
I thought he ran a very good run here second-up, considering he is a horse who wants a lot further. He sat near last on an above-average speed before running home really well into fourth, approx 1.25 lengths off the winner. A step up in distance is going to be the next logical step and hopefully, he draws a better gate than what he did on Saturday. I think he is in for a good preparation.