AFTER an horrendously wet spring, morale at Park House Stables has been boosted no-end by a bit of sunshine.
It doesn’t half make a difference for humans and horses. We’ve been out in the rain for what feels like forever, it’s a miracle I didn’t get trench foot!
TWO smart fillies
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 5, 2024
???????????????????????????????? ???????????????? keeps on stoutly to repel red-hot favourite Kalpana, with the pair a mile clear in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes.
The winner is now unbeaten in two career starts for team Gosden@WilliamHill | @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/hoZHgPhH7t
We are in full swing at the moment, with the first Classics of the season already under our belts.
There’s no two ways about it, we were desperately disappointed with See The Fire’s run in the 1,000 Guineas last Sunday.
Her work at home had been of a very high standard, so I think we are going to have to file it away under the ‘too bad to be true’ category.
The only real excuse she might have had is sitting close to a hot pace — the only horse to finish in the first six who wasn’t held up was Ramatuelle.
We will go to the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot next month and after that we’ll know whether she needs further.
And I thought our lovely filly Kalpana ran a great race to finish second in the Pretty Polly.
She isn’t entered in the Oaks but we may consider supplementing her. We’ll watch the remaining trials with interest.
With an eye to Epsom, I unfortunately had to scratch our exciting Anzac Day from the Derby this week.
He had a minor setback but will be back and I think he’s going to have a big year.
Mind you, we still have a rock-solid contender in Bellum Justum, who won at Epsom last month and is in terrific form at home.
It’s a big week coming up with the Dante meeting at York and Lockinge day at Newbury — but an even bigger few days for Southampton.
We play West Brom on Sunday in the first leg of our play-off semi-final. We stuffed Leeds on the final day so we head into the play-offs in good form.
If I’m being brutally honest, I’ve loved being in the Championship. It’s a lot more enjoyable winning games than fighting relegation!
I’ll be gutted if we don’t go up but it wouldn’t be the end of the world.
Especially with Portsmouth having come up from League One — nothing beats that derby.
We head to Ascot today with a couple of good chances, probably best among them is TOPANGA (2.05) who will be ridden by my fellow Sun columnist Hayley.
She was fifth in the Fred Darling at Newbury and the horse that finished a little ahead of us has since won the 1,000 Guineas. She has a big chance back in a handicap, we like her plenty.
And ARABIAN STORM (2.40) will probably improve for the run in today’s Victoria Cup, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he was involved in the finish.
As always, you need luck in these big handicaps.
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