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WEDNESDAY 28TH MAY
Sadly it was a blank weekend for the Fitzroy Team with our four runners up at Newmarket on Saturday and Sunday. HOUSE OF LORDS ran well though on what was his first outing on turf to take fourth position in the mile handicap on Saturday. He was staying on really well towards the end of the race and may just want a bit further. He also has been booked in to be gelded which will also hopefully just improve him and keep his mind completely on the job in hand. He is a really nice horse and has always been liked in the yard and is certainly capable of winning more races. Later in the afternoon we ran MISS BROWN TO YOU who we were hopeful would put up a better performance than her Chester effort. She made the running and led for the first half of the race just fading and taking sixth position. She is now handicapped with a rating of 77 which we are hopeful she can be competitive off. On Sunday we had SAVANNAH POPPY and LOVEINANELEVATOR running. SAVANNAH POPPY ran a really encouraging race to show she is back on song. She got left at the start and was doing her best work in the later stages of the races to grab fifth position but after missing the break she was not really given a chance. She will definitely win again and could turn out to be a progressive filly this season. LOVEINANELEVATOR has been slightly disappointing in that she is still a maiden. She was unlucky in running in her race today but would never have troubled the leaders. She is certainly capable of winning races and hopefully her day will come soon. On the Bank holiday Monday we sent two runners to Leicester where we thought we would have a great chance of adding to our tally of winners with BRAE HILL and he certainly did not disappoint. He showed that he had certainly improved from his second placed effort on his first run at Newmarket to take this maiden in good fashion. He seemed to relish the ground and he could possibly take his chance in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot. It was especially nice to win with this horse and give his owners the Thurloe Thoroughbreds something to cheer about as they have been so patient with BARBARY BOY who they also own and was unlucky to remain a maiden during his two-year-old campaign. He has been kept of the track this season so far due to niggley little problems but at least BRAE HILL has given them something to smile about. POULAINE BLEUE was our only other runner and she is a filly who is still slightly on the weak side but has been improving in her homework and is a filly that we are certain can win races. She is now eligible for a handicap mark and we will see how the handicapper rates her before making battle plans. On Tuesday were absolutely thrilled that INK SPOT finally got his head in front for his ever so patient owners Mr and Mrs Bone. He had been so unlucky in his races on always just finding one better than him but they never gave up faith in Inkie and they were rewarded at Leicester yesterday afternoon. He was given an awesome ride by Jamie Spencer and hopefully with the soft ground that is around at present he can build on this success.
Today we have had SECRET SOCIETY run and we thought he had a good chance. He was slowly away and weakened inside the final furlong which was a bit disappointing. He has been working well at home and we know he is better than this particular effort suggests. Our only other runner at Yarmouth this afternoon was GOLDEN BISHOP who passed his stalls test on Friday. He ran a nice race and it was good to see him run again after his behaviour last time at Yarmouth as he had us all scratching our heads when he refused to enter the stalls because he is not a naughty horse at home and this behaviour was very out of character. He is another who is capable of winning races and hopefully his day will come very soon. DANCING ABBIE also ran this afternoon at Great Leighs and it was good to see her bounce back with a good run after she was so disappointing at Chester and Micky Fenton had her lovely and settled throughout the race. Nothing was going to beat the eventual winner Zaskar and on the evidence of this run DANCING ABBIE will be suited by further. Tonight we have three runners at Beverley when MILANOLLO, LIZZIE WIGGINS and AURA all run.
Tomorrow we have runners at Brighton and Sandown where we see the mighty REGIME make his first appearance after his victory in the Group 3 in Ireland. He will be partnered by Richard Hughes and the horse has been in cracking form at home, but it does look a tough contest. ITALIAN GODDESS is our only representative at Brighton and hopefully this filly can finally break her maiden tag as she is a nicely bred and is capable of winning races.
SATURDAY 24TH MAY
We made the most of the sunshine today as it will probably be the last time we will see it for a few days at least, still we do need the rain so that we can run some of the horses who like cut in the ground.
On Thursday SPICE ROUTE was our only runner at Goodwood and he again put up a brave performance to take third in the listed race. He made all on this occasion as nothing looked like making the running and he could dictate his own pace. He had no answer when the favourite loomed alongside and then lost second well inside the final furlong, but it was another fair effort from a horse who is nowadays rated 106 but whose last win came off 87 in a handicap. He has has now had four tough races and it has been decided that he is due a well earned rest for a month or so before coming back in and having a mid to end of season campaign. His colours we seen to good effect on Friday though when OAT CUISINE won down here at Newmarket. It was touch and go in the morning if we were going to run her or not due to the firm ground but her owner and the boss made the decision to let her take her chance and it may just prove that these are the conditions that suit her. She was given a lovely ride by Richard Hughes and will hopefully go on now and win again this season.
We have two runners today at Newmarket where HOUSE OF LORDS run along with MISS BROWN TO YOU who will hopefully show this afternoon that her run at Chester where she did not handle the track is best forgotton. Tomorrow we run SAVANNAH POPPY and LOVEINANELEVATOR again both at Newmarket and we are hopeful that both fillies will give good accounts of themselves and then on Monday we run INK SPOT, POULAINE BLEUE and BRAE HILL who will hopefully go one better from his Newmarket run.
WEDNESDAY 21ST MAY
We seem to be having a quite time of it at present and runners seem quite thin on the ground. We have had nothing today but we did have three runners yesterday. Firstly at Southwell we had GOLDRENCED and SEA CHORUS running in the same race. GOLDRENCHED showed plenty of early pace and was up with the field for most of the way before dropping back She is a nice filly who is still on the weak side and it has been decided to give her a break with a view to bringing her back in about six weeks time where hopefully she will have some summer grass and sun and will comeback in a stronger filly. SEA CHORUS was third again which was slightly frustrating. She was drawn wide and was always on the outside of the field. She ran on well in the closing stages but was never going to bother the winner. She is a nice filly who is now due for handicap mark and hopefully she will be able to get her head in front shortly as she is definitely a filly that we like. In the evening at Leicester GUNNADOIT was having his first outing after his Brighton win and Jamie Spencer said he was never going on the firm ground. He started the race as favourite but certainly did not run like a favourite and we will find another race for him as soon as we get some rain.
Tomorrow our only runner is SPICE ROUTE and it would really be fantastic if he could get his head in front for the first time this season. he has a good horse of Jeremy Noseidas called Sixties Icon to beat.
Sadly due to car trouble I did not get up to the gallops to watch the horses work this morning but apparently they all worked well on the peat moss gallop
MONDAY 19TH MAY
After a satisfactory day at the office on Saturday as we continued with our winners at Newmarket where KING'S BASTION made a quick re-appearance after his run on Friday where he never got competitive but in this much easier contest he got up to score the victory under Dane O'Neill. He was held up just in behind the leaders and switched he was switched over one furlong and was keeping on strongly to get up close home. Hopefully he will not go up much in the weights after winning this weaker contest. Friday night at Hamilton proved unsuccessful for us, where we thought we had two fancied runners. GREAT CHARM was being tried over six furlongs for the first time and he seemed to find the pace a little to quick for his liking early on and received a bump over a furlong out. He flew home at the death to grab third place He appreciate stepping back up in trip next time. GULL WING sadly for her the storm that were forecast did not materialise and the ground was really not to her liking. She pressed the winner and was give every chance by Richard Mullen but was ridden over two furlongs out and was soon no danger to the winner. She is a different filly on softer ground and it will not be to long before she is back to winning ways. We have just seen MEZZANISI finish second AGAIN after his second last week at Windsor. He was settled towards the rear of the field and had every chance of winning but just could not peg back the eventual winner Stow. Hopefully it will not be to long before he can start winning races for his lovely gentleman owners.
Tomorrow we have GUNNADOIT running at Leicester and we are hoping he can follow up from his Brighton win. Also we have GOLDRENCHED and SEA CHORUS running at Southwell. GOLDRENCHED is a filly that is improving all the time and SEA CHORUS certainly deserves to lose her maiden tag after two third place finishes.
On Saturday we worked the horses up the Summer Gallop due to the amount of rain that we had received in Newmarket. I was really impressed with HIGHLAND LEGACY who was ridden by John Maxse and he worked nine furlongs with METAPOHRIC who also looked to be going well.
Another pair working over the nine furlongs were REGIME who is a possible runner in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown and he worked with SPICE ROUTE who is due to run at Goodwood on Thursday. Both worked well and looked in good order.
FLY FREE who runs tonight was working over a straight seven furlongs with MONTRACHET and OAT CUISINE. OAT CUISINE worked well and she is due to run on Friday at Newmarket and MONTRACHET has a number of entries coming up but has not definite plans after she bypassed Sandown on Wednesday evening.
INK SPOT who is sadly still a maiden after so many gallant efforts worked a straight seven furlongs giving a lead to REDFORD. REDFORD had been working really well early on in the season but has been slightly disappointing over the last three weeks and has left us scratching our heads. he again failed to show the form he had done early on and we will see how he is over the next couple of weeks. INK SPOT is another who has entries coming up and we will find the most suitable race for him and hopefully he will break his maiden tag.
AURA tomorrows runner GOLDRENCHED , MILANOLLO and GLITZ all worked nicely together and came up the hill in a group. They all looked to be going well and are fillies which will be running shortly.
LIZZIE WIGGINS and POULAINE BLEUE worked a straight seven and sadly POULAINE BLEUE sadly got balloted out of her intended race tonight at Yarmouth tonight and will now run on the 26th May at Leicester providing the ground is not to firm. LIZZIE WIGGINS swerved Sandown on Wednesday night and she has entries coming up.
SEA CHORUS worked with WOOD CHORUS and when they passed me Hayley had WOOD CHORUS settled a good three or four lengths of SEA CHORUS. They both finished together and surely are both fillies that hopefully will be winning maidens shortly.
Finally we had two, two-year-old working. BATTLE OF HASTINGS had impressed me when he worked previously and has since been gelded. He worked really very nicely with SECRET SOCIETY who is another who is shaping up into a nice horse and he has entries coming up at the weekend at Newmarket.
FRIDAY 16TH MAY
We have started today with a good win, when BAHAMIAN BABE took the listed race at York. It was a great victory for her owners Mr Farr and Mrs Gray who also bred her. She is a tough filly who only made £5,000 at the sales and was brought back in and put in training so every credit to them for keeping her and what a success she has been. She was given a lovely ride by Hayley Turner and what is so good for Hayley is that it ends her run of seconds. The filly is so tough and could run in the Weatherbys Super Sprint in July where sadly due to this win she will have to carry a penalty. We also have had SHAKER run where she was very disappointing and we are hoping that something will come to light to explain this poor effort. WRIITINGONTHEWALL travelled a bit keen early at the back of the field but seemed to stay on later in the race. KING'S BASTION ran a moderate race this afternoon as he was fancied to go one better after his first run of the season. He seems to go for a stronger jockey and maybe he is not an apprentice ride. ALLIED POWERS like TOPAZES has also achieved his three timer of the season this week in fantastic style. He was given a really good ride by good 3lb claimer Travis Block and what was especially nice was the way he was patting the horse as he crossed the line. He is such a progressive horse and seems to take his racing really well. Earlier in the week as mentioned TOPAZES managed to win his third race of the season. He like ALLIED POWERS is a progressive horse who looks after himself and just seems to do enough in his races. Also MEZZANISI was a shade unlucky in his race where he finished a good second and it should not be to long before he is winning. He could run on Monday at Bath but has a few possibilities coming up. RED LINNET seems to be a shade disappointing after her maiden win, but she gives the impression she may want further as she seems to be slightly one paced. She is a nicely bred filly who should be winning races again. On Wednesday HOH MIKE was our only representative after the withdrawal of ALLIED POWERS due to the firm ground. The lads in the yard were slightly disappointed with the ride HOH MIKE was given as he seemed to be held up along way off the pace but finished very well and we thought we may have been a shade unlucky to not finish at least third. He will be sharper after the run and with a bit more give in the ground we hope he can pick up a group two or even a group one! BRAE HILL was our only runner at Newmarket on there new Thursday evening meeting up at the Rowley Mile Course. He ran a very encouraging race but was beaten into second by what we think is a potentially good horse. It should not be to long on the evidence of this run before he wins his maiden. RAWDON will always be RAWDON. He is such a favourite with everyone in the yard and as always seems to let us down but maybe next time! He is getting very expensive to follow but we still love him.
Tonight we have two runners at Hamilton where GREAT CHARM is going for a three timer. He has been in good form since his last win at Southwell but we hope the drop back to six furlongs will not be a problem as he travels well in his races. GULL WING is having her first start since winning the Further Flight Stakes which is a listed race at Nottingham. We hope she can follow up but a certain worry is the ground as we hope that Hamilton has received the amount of rain that we have.
MONDAY 12TH MAY
The sunshine is still with us and it has been a glorious weekend. Sadly due to the hot weather it has meant that the ground has been drying up everywhere and we now have a lot of the going at the different meeting with the word firm in it. This has meant that we ended up withdrawing our three runners at Warwick on Saturday night. We did however send INK SPOT up to Haydock where we were hopeful that it he could turn some of his seconds into a victory. Sadly he was not given the greatest of rides by Joe Fanning and he got into some trouble and finished eighth. It may have been a little bit to firm for him but with a clearer run he would have been much closer.
Today we have just seen GOLDEN BISHOP withdrawn from his race at Yarmouth but sadly this time it was not due to the ground but due to him not entering the starting stalls. We do not really know what has happened to the horse as he is so easy to deal with at home but he definitely would not play ball today. He will know have to be sent for a stalls test which takes place before a race meeting and has to be put through the stalls and passed by the stall handlers. We usually do this before a racing meeting at Newmarket before the meeting starts. We have also seen ITALIAN GODDESS run who does not seem to find a lot when she comes of the bridle. She travels well throughout the race and when she is asked to quicken she seems to take a while to get going. Tonight is our best chance of a winner when MEZZANISI runs at Windsor. He has been working well at home and partnered TOPAZES in a piece of work up the peat moss and both travelled well together. TOPAZES runs later on the card and we are very hopeful that he can keep his winning run going. Finally our only other runner on the card at Windsor is RED LINNET who we had high hopes for at the beginning of the season and we are hopeful that she can bounce back to form this evening.
On Saturday we worked the horses up the peat moss and as I already mentioned I was impressed with MEZZANISI and TOPAZES and they had HOUSE OF LORDS tucked in behind them who also worked really well.
Not much else worked but another who caught the eye was BAHAMIAN BABE who looked in fantastic form ahead of her run in the listed race at York on Friday. She worked really well coming up EDDIE BOY and SICILIANDO.
HOH MIKE who is due to run on Wednesday at York worked with KING'S BASTION who is pencilled in to run at Newmarket on Friday. Both worked well and hopefully both will give account of themselves when they run . HOH MIKE has a field of eighteen to take on when he runs but hopefully this will not stop him from running well in this group 2 contest.
Our final group to work was PROFUMO AFFAIR who worked with GLITZ and STAR CHOICE. This work did not according to plan when Caroline Thorpe's reins broke and as you can see from the picture below, she did an amazing job in holding the bridle and keeping the bit in the horses mouth so she still had control or else it could have turned quite nasty. In all fairness to the horse, he did not panic and behaved like the perfect gentleman and pulled up at the end of his gallop and was led home.
FRIDAY 9TH MAY
We have had a beautiful week here in Newmarket and all the horses have enjoyed going out on exercise and having a well deserved a pick of grass when they have returned to the yard. The fillies are really starting to look well and are starting to benefit from the change in weather.
SPICE ROUTE was the first of our runners and he ran a cracking race stepping back up into Group company. He was settled of the pace and travelled so well throughout his race like he has done on so many occasions but could not get up to beat Championship Point who he finished second to at Ripon last time out. We then switched meeting and had BADALONA running at Goodwood. She ran a really good race which was her first outing of the season just failing to get back up on the line. She will come on from the run and I thinks she is a really nice filly in the making who can go on to better things. EVERYBODY KNOWS was our other runner at Goodwood and he failed to settle and gave his jockey Tom Queally a real tough time and sadly did not show the promise that he had shown on his first run of the year. We will see how he is after his run and then make another plan for him. FLY FREE was our last runner of the day when she was taking part in an event at Great leighs. She chased the leaders early on and was taken quite wide round the bend and could only manage to finish in sixth place. Today we started the day of with LOVEINANELEVATOR running at Nottingham and she was settled nicely towards the rear under Jim Crowley. She was running on again but still looks a filly who is quite green but is improving all the time. We then switched meetings to Chester where we had MISS BROWN TO YOU running and she was never at the races. Jamie Spencer felt that she had not handled the track which can often be the case with certain horses and she is a nice big filly that possibly does not want such a turning track. AURA who was in the second division of the maiden at Nottingham was having her first run for us after leaving Sir Michael Stoute's yard. She is a filly who has had problems with ulcers which she has been having treatment for and we are not really sure of her ability. She ran a nice race for her first outing of the year and will come on a lot from the race. LIZZIE WIGGINS was our last runner of the day at Lingfield. She was having her first run for us after having been claimed out of Marco Botti's yard. She was up with the pace for a long way but just faded inside the last furlong. It should not be to long before she get her head in front again.
Tomorrow we have runners at Haydock where INK SPOT takes his chance and he is due to be partnered by Joe Fanning who rode him last year at Thirsk when he finished third to Sir Gerry who is a decent horse of James Fanshawes. We also have SEA CHORUS and GOLDRENCHED running at Warwick with SEA CHORUS on her form being our best chance of a winner.
THURSDAY 8TH MAY
Yesterday we had three runners and Chester's May meeting. We had big hopes for our first two runners with DANCING ABBIE running in the Cheshire Oaks. Sadly Jamie Spencer failed to get the filly to settle and she was pulling really hard for the first part of the race and so Jamie took her to the front and she made the running. She did not have much room and lost her place and was eased down. We will see how she has taken the race before making further plans for her. HIGHLAND LEGACY started as favourite for the Chester Cup and sadly the conditions had dried up so much for him and he never got the ground that he really likes but he put up a gallant effort and was always up with the pace but when he was asked to quicken he just dropped away and could only manage to claim fifth prize. ALLIED POWERS thankfully gave us a Chester winner in the last race. The horse ran a cracking race and just keeps on improving and improving. He could possibly run again next week at either Newbury or York depending on how he has taken the race.
Today we have two runners at Goodwood in BADALONA and EVERYBODY KNOWS. BADALONA was a really nice filly for us last season who finally go off the mark after finishing third on three occasions by winning at Haydock. We like her a lot and she has been going nicely at home. EVERYBODY KNOWS who was second on his first outing of this season and we are hoping he can go one better this afternoon. He is another who seems to have come on from his race and will hopefully give a good account of himself today. FLY FREE is a filly we run tonight at Great Leighs. She has had some good form early on in her career but just seems to have lost her way ever so slightly. Tonight we have put a visor on her and we are hoping this will do the trick to get her back on winning ways. Finally we have SPICE ROUTE running at Chester where he will tackle Championship Point again who he was second to at Ripon. Spicey has been working well at home and his work partner has been REGIME who was successful at The Curragh at the weekend.
Tomorrow we have MISS BROWN TO YOU running at Chester, LIZZIE WIGGINS running at Lingfield and LOVEINANELEVEATOR and AURA running at Nottingham.
TUESDAY 6TH MAY
Summer seems to be finally here and thankfully the Fitzroy horses seem to be thriving in the beautiful conditions. TOPAZES carried on with our winning run when he scored under Jamie Spencer at Folkestone. He is a progressive horse and although the win did not look a walk in the park as he hung into the middle of the track and had a real duel with the runner up. The handicapper had already raised him 3lb higher, but we do feel he is only just getting the hang of things and can continue to progress. GREAT CHARM was completing his double in wins when he scored at Southwell. He raced quite keenly early on and Tom Queally did a fantastic job in settling him and he was off the bridle with two furlongs to go, but responded well to win in a driving finish. He is a fine big horse and is only just starting to come to himself, and although the form of the race unlikely to be very special, he is a progressive sort. SHAKER was an unlucky runner on Sunday when she looked as though she had every chance and when Robert Havlin asked her to go he ran into trouble and the partnership were lucky to stay together. She ran on well at the end but it was all to late and she had to settle for fifth place missing out on the illusive black type. She is a nice filly and hopefully it will not be to long before she can fulfil her potential. On the bank holiday Monday we had runners at Warwick, Windsor and finally The Curragh. POULAINE BLEUE showed much improvement in her race at Warwick where she was always prominent and just weakened inside the final furlong. OAT CUISINE was not at all at home on the ground and ARTSU who ran at Windsor chased the leaders and he was ridden to challenge with three furlongs to go. He weakened one out and missed out on being third and had to settle for fourth place. At The Curragh we had to endure an exciting bunch finish to the race with our horse who turned out to be the only British Raider in field, REGIME prevailing narrowly. REGIME battled well under a strong superb ride by Pat Smullen and after hitting the front inside the final furlong he managed to hold off all challengers. He seemed to enjoy the drop back in trip and it was felt that he did not stay the 1m4f on his seasonal reappearance at Newbury in the John Porter. Sadly today we have seen our odds on favourite WOOD CHORUS beaten again and she had to settle for second place. She ran well just getting headed inside the final furlong. She is a nice filly and we are sure that a win is not far away for her.
Tomorrow we run DANCING ABBIE, HIGHLAND LEGACY and ALLIED POWERS.
