Bert’s Horseracing Blog

I had a long chat with Pete today.  It’s all systems go for Winker on Sunday week in the Prix Morny, and he’s working extremely well.  I don’t see anything beating him - if he wins we may go for an extremely aggressive 2yo campaign with him.

The best news he had concerned Bouguereau.  Pete was on his way to France when Bouguereau ran at Goodwood - he was disappointed with the result and had expected a lot better.  Bouguereau worked this morning and was spectacular on the gallops - Pete reckons he has come on a load for the Goodwood run.  Rather than go for a maiden we will probably go straight for a listed race, and there is one over a mile at Deauville next Saturday.  If the ground is right he should take part.

After his run at Pontefract Effingham has had a recurrence of the sore shin that kept him out of training.  It’s no surprise as the ground was rock hard, but it looks pretty minor and should clear up in a week or so.

I spoke to Nicky Vaughan.  Shepherd’s Warning is really well and has made a lot of progression physically - David Evans relented and she is in the sales race now, so that will probably be her main target (albeit a rather ambitious one, but there is good money down to tenth place).   Lilac Moon is, for the most part, sound, but she has a trace of lameness when trotted on the tarmac.  We’ll do what we can in the short term to identify any small problems, but I don’t want to throw good money after bad and we’ll make a call on our strategy next week.

Captain Hurricane runs tomorrow at Haydock, and amazingly the Racing Post have him in as third favourite.  The galloping track may suit him and the ground should also be in his favour.