Our season got started on a high note on April 12th where with three runners we finished with a first and two seconds. Wall of Fire, stepping up to listed company, was beaten by a nose at Nottingham though a black type win would not be far off. The Melbourne Cup in November is his ultimate target. Bedouin out of Jewel in the Sand was also second, beaten just a length on his handicap debut so he should soon be in the winners enclosure. The third runner, Kajaki, was backed down to favourite and made light work of winning at Catterick. The omens look good for the season ahead.
July - October 2017
Lynwood Gold
25th October 2017
Lynwood Gold had won on his debut in late August and was twice runner up before this victory. With an official rating of 85 he had to carry the top weight in the Cambridge Art Fair Nursery at Newmarket and won by a comfortable 2½ lengths. He obviously needed the good to firm ground and his trainer Mark Johnston believes he will even be better over longer trips. He will be the a top handicapper next season and is likely to perform at Group level, as his close relative Drumfire did – also trained by Mark.
Brutal (Pivotal X Loreto)
A win at Leopardstown is always special but as Sheikh Fahad’s mount in 2016 went on to win at the Cheltenham Festival the same plan surely lies in store here.
22nd October 2017
It may only have been a race in aid of charity but Sheikh Fahad worked hard to get race fit and his weight down to ride his own horse Brutal and repeat his win of twelve months previous. It all worked to plan where the esteemed jockey held up Brutal in 4th place and then hit the front as they turned for home. With no company to race with Brutal began to idle in front at the 1f mark but once he got a few reminders from Sheikh Fahad went on to win cosily.A win at Leopardstown is always special but as Sheikh Fahad’s mount in 2016 went on to win at the Cheltenham Festival the same plan surely lies in store here.
Restive (Rip Van Winkle X I Hear You Knocking)
We would like to congratulate his trainer and owner Iain Jardine and another win cannot be far away.
20th October 2017
Restive had finished a close 2nd at Newcastle on October 10th and he wasted very little time when reappearing at this race ten days later. He was held up early on and made steady headway from 3f out, hitting the front with 100 yds to go. A winner in Ireland when trained by Ger Lyons this Redcar win brings his total earnings to over Stg. £20,000.We would like to congratulate his trainer and owner Iain Jardine and another win cannot be far away.
Poseidon (Born to Sea X Maskaya)
Maskaya was herself a winner over sprint distances and Poseidon, who had been running longer, seems to have found his best trip over 1m2f
9th October 2017
Poseidon was given too much to do at Windsor and finishing as runner up on September 4th. Ridden prominently at Salisbury he challenged to lead 2f out and won nicely. He is one of the first crop of Born to Sea out of the good Machiavellian mare Maskaya.Maskaya was herself a winner over sprint distances and Poseidon, who had been running longer, seems to have found his best trip over 1m2f
Three Saints Bay (Kodiac X Fiuise)
7th October 2017
Having been placed in all his starts Three Saints Bay was stepped up to 7f at Redcar and duly obliged. Never far off the pace he was ridden to lead over 1f out and readily saw off all his challengers. He is the first foal of the Montjeu mare Fiuise who was injured as a 2YO and did not race. Her yearling was purchased and goes into training with Mick Channon.
Fayez (Zoffany X Gems)
We would like to congratulate his trainer David O’Meara and in particular his jockey who gets on so well with the horse.
29th September 2017
Fayez and jockey Shelley Birkett got on well together and both repeated their win of August 18th in the all-weather at Newcastle. Picking up a nice prize of Stg. £4,850 that now brings his winnings to over Stg. £20,000. Held up at the rear he made headway from 2f out and led inside the final furlong for an easy victory. Though his weight will now go up again the manner of his victory suggest the handicapper has not yet caught up with him.We would like to congratulate his trainer David O’Meara and in particular his jockey who gets on so well with the horse.
Fortitude (Oasis Dream x Sweepstake)
A hike in the weights beckons but as she is so lightly raced we can expect more wins in better company before year end. While carrying the top weight of 9st 7lbs he was still on the bridle at the 2f marker and scooted clear in the final 100 yds. We would like to wish Hugo Palmer’s stable the continuation of his speedy recovery and lots of runners and winners in the final months of 2017.
20th September 2017
The lightly raced Fortitude’s win in June, she was placed in July and in August, so the win at Yarmouth on September 20th was well overdue. Having been placed in far stronger races she took full advantage of the drop in Class and was totally in command, winning by 2 lengths.A hike in the weights beckons but as she is so lightly raced we can expect more wins in better company before year end. While carrying the top weight of 9st 7lbs he was still on the bridle at the 2f marker and scooted clear in the final 100 yds. We would like to wish Hugo Palmer’s stable the continuation of his speedy recovery and lots of runners and winners in the final months of 2017.
Kajaki (Mastercraftsman x No Quest)
This was a valuable class 3 Handicap earning for his owner over Stg. £11,000. More wins over this distance can be expected in the very top handicaps.
17th September 2017
Kajaki, now a 4YO, has run seventeen times finishing in the first three on thirteen occasions. Stepping up to his favourite distance of 1m6f at Chester, he won by a comfortable four and a half lengths. Taking the lead over 2 furlongs out he stayed on strongly drawing clear from his pursuers.This was a valuable class 3 Handicap earning for his owner over Stg. £11,000. More wins over this distance can be expected in the very top handicaps.
Chai Chai (Zoffany x Flamenco Red
15th September 2017
Lightly raced Chai Chai had finished a close 3rd when stepped up to 7f on good ground at Salisbury on September 7th. Reappearing on September 15th at Chester, again over 7f, he made light work of the task at hand winning by a comfortable 2 lengths. Drawn wide he raced near the rear of the field but when asked to go at the 2f mark he quickly took command. He likes a good to soft surface so we can expect to see him out again shortly.
Hamidans Girl (Bahamian Bounty X Moynsha Lady)
She is now finding the good to firm ground she likes and the third win cannot be far away. We would like to congratulate her trainer Keith Dalgleish and owner Middleham Park Racing.
8th September 2017
After many good placed efforts Hamidans Girl had her first win on August 27th. She did this with ease and we all expected she would turn out again quickly. Not wasting much time she reappeared in the last race at Musselburgh and though giving significant weight all around she achieved her second win by a comfortable two lengths.She is now finding the good to firm ground she likes and the third win cannot be far away. We would like to congratulate her trainer Keith Dalgleish and owner Middleham Park Racing.
Western Duke (High Chapparal X Witch of Fife)
8th September 2017
The lightly raced Western Duke made a long overdue appearance in the Class 3 - London Middle Distance Series Qualifier on Friday and though sent off at odds of 25/1 he again showed his 2YO sparkle winning with a bit in hand. As a 2YO he had an official rating of 87 when finishing second to Derby horses such as Permian. Displaying his 2YO potential, since gelded in May, we can expect some big handicaps to fall his way in the months ahead. His younger brother Lynwood Gold won first time out on August 29th so we can expect some good performances from the two brothers over the coming months. We would like to congratulate his trainer Ralph Beckett and owner London City Bloodstock.
Horseshoe Bay (Arch X Sweepstake)
Horseshoe Bay had an official rating of 92 on the flat and once he learns to jump cleanly he will be a bright prospect for his patient owners Bermuda Thoroughbred Racing Limited.
30th August 2017
Horsehoe Bay only raced four times on the flat for Sir Michael Stoute finishing 4th in the Bahrain Trophy (GR3) in July 2015 on his final start. Off the track for two years due to injury he moved from Sir Michael to Dan Skelton in early August and had his first run at Worcester in the Betfred Maiden Hurdle. Though running green and not jumping cleanly he picked up his ground well and kept on strongly from the last to win drawing away. This was a good start to life over hurdles and his trainer said he will improve from the experience.Horseshoe Bay had an official rating of 92 on the flat and once he learns to jump cleanly he will be a bright prospect for his patient owners Bermuda Thoroughbred Racing Limited.
Lynwood Gold (Mastercraftsman X Witch of Fife)
Witch of Fife had just one more foal before being retired – a Born to Sea filly which has been retained by Croom House.
29th August 2017
Lynwood Gold was one of our Goffs Orby yearlings in 2016, purchased by Mark Johnston. Bred in the purple out of one of our foundation mares – Witch of Fife, he kept up the families winning tradition in this his first outing. He went clear 1f out and won unchallenged by five lengths. We will shortly see him running in pattern company.Witch of Fife had just one more foal before being retired – a Born to Sea filly which has been retained by Croom House.
Hamidans Girl (Bahamian Bounty X Moynsha Lady)
27th August 2017
Having been placed seven times this win was overdue. Having encountered all types of trouble in running she only got a clear run in the final 100 yards but then quickened well to win by one and a half lengths drawing away. She looked a very smart filly at the minimal trip but could easily step back up to 6F on a firm surface.
Rostropovich (Frankel X Tyranny)
His half sister by Dubawi sells at the Goffs Orby in September
20th August 2017
Rostropovich provided our first group winner of the year in winning the Galileo Futurity Stakes (GR 2) at the Curragh. With the ground yielding to soft he hated every yard of it but ran on strongly to get up close home. He is now destined for the National Stakes GR 1 or another GR 1 race over a mile. Like many Frankel’s he will be at his best over middle distances and as a three year old.His half sister by Dubawi sells at the Goffs Orby in September
Fayez (Zoffany X Gems)
18th August 2017
Since winning first time out in 2016 Fayez had four well placed efforts so this win at Wolverhampton was well overdue. Shaken up at the 1f mark he challenged widest of all and won with a bit in hand. Though running off an official rating of 82 he can still pick up other good handicaps on the all-weather or on a firm surface.
Bedouin (High Chaparral X Jewel in the Sand)
11th August 2017
On the 8th July Bedouin chalked up his first win on good ground over one mile and two furlongs. We suggested he would return quickly to the racecourse once he again found a surface to suit. At Brighton on Friday he made light work when winning the Marathonbet Challenge Handicap on good to firm ground. With his rating now in the mid eighties the handicapper may not have caught up with him and provided the ground stays firm we can expect another win soon.
Brutal (Pivotal X Loreto)
Running in the first 3YO maiden of the year at Cork on Monday he again showed his Racing Post Trophy form and won comfortably. While giving 10 lbs to the runner up he powered at the last and drew clear. He looks an exciting prospect and will have his owners dreaming of the Triumph Hurdle in March 2018.
Loreto has a Teofilo yearling colt, a foal by Australia who is herself in foal to Dark Angel.
7th August 2017
Having won his 2YO maiden at Leopardstown Brutal then ran 5th in the Racing Post Trophy G1 with an official rating of 107. Placed as a 3YO in April he was transferred by his owners Qatar Racing to the Gordon Elliott stable to continue his career at National Hunt.Running in the first 3YO maiden of the year at Cork on Monday he again showed his Racing Post Trophy form and won comfortably. While giving 10 lbs to the runner up he powered at the last and drew clear. He looks an exciting prospect and will have his owners dreaming of the Triumph Hurdle in March 2018.
Loreto has a Teofilo yearling colt, a foal by Australia who is herself in foal to Dark Angel.
Special Purpose
She is a very smart filly and her next target is the GR2 Lowther Stakes at York on August 24th.
24th July 2017
Special Purpose opened her account on July 1st and wasted little time in heading to Beverley for the Carnival Night fillies novice stakes. Carrying a 7 lb penalty for the Lingfield win she made light of her task, going clear in the final furlong and winning by three and a half lengths. Being a Plus 10 race she picked a nice Stg. £10,000 on top of the prize money of Stg. £3,900.She is a very smart filly and her next target is the GR2 Lowther Stakes at York on August 24th.
Standing Rock (Fastnet Rock X Great Hope
Congratulations to Tom Goff who purchased her at the Tattersalls Book Two Sale for Stg. £50,000. Congratulations also to John Gosden her trainer and to her joint owners Rachel Hood and Mrs Paul Shanahan
15th July 2017
Standing Rock won her maiden on June 15th on her racecourse debut and returned just thirty days later to Salisbury this Class 3 valuable fillies handicap. Gong off as the 6/4 favourite she was shaken up to lead at the 1f pole and won cosily. With two wins from two runs she will shortly step up into pattern company.Congratulations to Tom Goff who purchased her at the Tattersalls Book Two Sale for Stg. £50,000. Congratulations also to John Gosden her trainer and to her joint owners Rachel Hood and Mrs Paul Shanahan
Bedouin (High Chaparral X Jewel in the Sand)
In winning this race at Nottingham - the Genting Casino American Classified Stakes – Bedouin showed his liking for his favourite distance of 1m2f. He was ridden to lead at the 1f mark and went clear. He is likely to make a fast return to the racecourse.
8th July 2017
Bedouin became the fifth winner from six runners from the G2 winning mare Jewel in the Sand. The genes from her dam Dancing Drop and her grand dam Moon Drop are obviously being passed on. Both have produced multiple group winners and between them have had fifteen winners from nineteen progeny to race. Jewel in the Sands only runner to not win has produced black type winning colt Wall of Fire who at two and three years has already earned Stg. £118,000.In winning this race at Nottingham - the Genting Casino American Classified Stakes – Bedouin showed his liking for his favourite distance of 1m2f. He was ridden to lead at the 1f mark and went clear. He is likely to make a fast return to the racecourse.
El Hayem (Invincible Spirit X Winning Sequence)
Like many Invincible Spirit’s, who improve with age, he is likely to remain in training and will be a force in all the good one mile handicaps.
8th July 2017
El Hayem, already a winner at three years had run well twice as a 4YO in class two handicaps. As Sandown, rated as good to firm, he was back on the ground he loves and duly obliged for trainer Sir Michael Stoute and jockey Ryan Moore. Lightly raced his next race is likely to be the Betfred Mile at the Qatar Goodwood festival.Like many Invincible Spirit’s, who improve with age, he is likely to remain in training and will be a force in all the good one mile handicaps.
Whispering Bell (Galileo X Red Avis)
Red Avis has a Teofilo 2YO bought by Godolphin, yet to race, and a Rip Van Winkle yearling filly which will be sold at the Goffs Orby Sale in September. She has a Dark Angel foal and is in foal to Camelot.
2nd July 2017
Whispering Bell is the first foal out of the Exceed and Excel mare Red Avis. She ran once as a 2YO to finish 3rd and we all awaited this debut as a 3YO. She did not disappoint winning by four and a half lengths and the third horse being a further eleven and a half lengths behind. She has a bright future and will shortly step up to black type racing.Red Avis has a Teofilo 2YO bought by Godolphin, yet to race, and a Rip Van Winkle yearling filly which will be sold at the Goffs Orby Sale in September. She has a Dark Angel foal and is in foal to Camelot.
Special Purpose (Scat Daddy X Pussycat Lips)
Making her debut in this EBF Novice Stakes at Lingfield she produced an eye catching run, showing a neat turn of foot to quicken between horses and win going away under hands and heels. She learned plenty from her first outing and obviously black type races await.
We would like to congratulate David Redvers her purchaser, owner Qatar Racing and her trainer William Haggas.
Pussycat Lips has a Lope de Vega yearling colt which will be sold at Goffs and has an Iffraaj filly foal on the ground.
1st July 2017
Special Purpose is out of the winning mare Pussycat Lips who when sold to the USA was second in a GR3 on her first run at Santa Anita. Subsequently injured she was bought as a filly out of training by Croom House and put in foal to Scat Daddy.Making her debut in this EBF Novice Stakes at Lingfield she produced an eye catching run, showing a neat turn of foot to quicken between horses and win going away under hands and heels. She learned plenty from her first outing and obviously black type races await.
We would like to congratulate David Redvers her purchaser, owner Qatar Racing and her trainer William Haggas.
Pussycat Lips has a Lope de Vega yearling colt which will be sold at Goffs and has an Iffraaj filly foal on the ground.
April - June 2017
El Tren (Danehill Dancer X Dhamma
Dhamma has a No Nay Never yearling colt selling at the DBS Premier Sale on August 30th and has a Power foal on the ground in Croom.
29th June 2017
El Tren was a multiple winner in Germany and Group placed and was rated 100 when sold out of training. The good ground he loves came right at Tipperary and when switched to the outside for a run he flew home winning by a comfortable one and a half lengths. The handicapper has now raised him 10 lbs for this win but with the right ground and distance further wins should not be a problem.Dhamma has a No Nay Never yearling colt selling at the DBS Premier Sale on August 30th and has a Power foal on the ground in Croom.
Rostropovich (Frankel X Tyranny)
He is out of the outstanding mare Tyranny already the dam of three black type horses including the sire and G1 winner Zoffany. Tyranny is unfortunately dead and her final foal is a filly by Dubawi who is due to be sold at the Goffs Orby Sale in September.
25th June 2017
One of the millionaire Frankel yearlings sold in 2016, Rostropovich went into this race as a money on favourite and duly obliged. Though still very green and running around a bit when he hit the front he quickened nicely drawing away in the final fifty yards. His trainer suggest he will be at his best over longer distances and is a very smart 3YO in the making.He is out of the outstanding mare Tyranny already the dam of three black type horses including the sire and G1 winner Zoffany. Tyranny is unfortunately dead and her final foal is a filly by Dubawi who is due to be sold at the Goffs Orby Sale in September.
Standing Rock (Fastnet Rock X Great Hope)
Making headway over 1f out she led in the final 120 yards and ran on well. Her jockey said she will improve a lot from the race as she was very green, as expected in her first run. She is next likely to be seen in a Conditions or a black type race.
15th June 2017
Standing Rock did not race as a 2YO and made a winning debut at Newbury in the Crossland Maiden Fillies Stakes. Out of the winning race mare Great Hope she is closely related to the Black Type filly Reckoning – both being grand daughters of Danehill. Her grand dam, La Meilleure has produced multiple black type winners and stallions.Making headway over 1f out she led in the final 120 yards and ran on well. Her jockey said she will improve a lot from the race as she was very green, as expected in her first run. She is next likely to be seen in a Conditions or a black type race.
Fortitude (Oasis Dream X Sweepstake)
Sweepstake has a Fastnet Rock 2YO colt which sold at the Tattersalls Book One Sale in 2016. Her yearling colt by Australia sells at the Goffs Orby Sale in September.
3rd June 2017
Fortitude did not run at two due to injury and finished fourth first time out the previous month. Here she had an easy win at Doncaster in the Betfred Maiden Stakes. Over this minimum trip she tracked the leaders, made headway 2f out and then challenged at the 1f mark to win readily.Sweepstake has a Fastnet Rock 2YO colt which sold at the Tattersalls Book One Sale in 2016. Her yearling colt by Australia sells at the Goffs Orby Sale in September.
Harbour Beacon (Harbour Watch X Blue Beacon)
21st April 2017
Having gone close two seconds, in his two runs as a juvenile, Harbour Beacon went to post as a very short priced favourite in the EBF Maiden at Dundalk, winning comfortably. He was purchased as a yearling at the Goffs Orby sale by David Redvers on behalf of his owner Qatar Racing. With this valuable maiden and two places under his belt he has now earned €14,000 and should soon be running in black type company. We would like to congratulate all his connections.
Kajaki (Mastercraftsman X No Quest)
12th April 2017
Kajaki is following in the hoof steps of his illustrious brother Quest for More, a GR1 and multiple GR2 winner for two miles and further. Kajaki was stepped up to one mile and six furlongs at Catterick and had an easy victory in the Champions Awards Handicap. All credit must go to his trainer Kevin Ryan for having him ready early in the season as many big prizes over the longer distances should await him. He is a grandson of Rainbow Quest and the staying pedigree has really come through in the No Quest offspringNovermber - December
Winners 2017
Our season got started on a high note on April 12th where with three runners we finished with a first and two seconds. Wall of Fire, stepping up to listed company, was beaten by a nose at Nottingham though a black type win would not be far off. The Melbourne Cup in November is his ultimate target. Bedouin out of Jewel in the Sand was also second, beaten just a length on his handicap debut so he should soon be in the winners enclosure. The third runner, Kajaki, was backed down to favourite and made light work of winning at Catterick. The omens look good for the season ahead.