A good win for Quaker Parrot on Thursday, and she’s proving to be a nice commercial type. She isn’t blessed with the ability of some but she loves racing and really lights up when she gets to the track – she’s learning and progressing and on the whole is one to stay on the right side of.
Open Glory, who ran on Friday, is the other side of the coin at the moment. She is a very nice looking sort who has caught a few eyes and looks as if she has stacks of ability, but she isn’t showing a lot on the track. She’s an honest friendly sort, and hopefully the penny will drop in time.
I’m not betting much at the moment as I’ve got too much going on, but I’m having a go today. I like betting when the ground has changed late on – invariably there are horses running that have lost their chance with the change of ground, and I think this holds particularly true on Saturdays when more owners go racing and are keen for their horses to run even if their chances are gone. There are races today where I can’t see a single runner that looks to be suited by the conditions – unsurprisingly there are plenty of non-runners.
In the first at Newmarket there is a lot to like about the breeding of Marine Spirit, who has two high class full siblings who went on soft ground – with the stable in form he must have an excellent chance. The price is short though, and I’m tempted to oppose with and outsider – Comedy Hall is an odd choice on breeding but he is the pick. Sheikh Mohammed bought Stonerside stable last year – this sizeable operation cherry picks a few horses to send over to the UK each year (generally on the basis of the horses action), and when they come it pays to take note. Their three runners in 2008 were Raven’s Pass, Michita and Expresso Star.
My brother-in-law part owns a runner today. Doric Lady (Newm 3:35) will have appreciated the rain and I have a thing about following progressive 4yo fillies – they can just carry on progressing. She has a great chance.
At Newbury in the 4:30 Pete runs Jaser, and this one caught my eye last year as one to stay on the right side of. He needs cut to be at his best and makes up my treble today.