I’ve been waiting to write that headline for a long time. Major Eazy’s win at the fifth attempt on Saturday night was long overdue, and at last we have confirmation of something we have believed for a long time – he is a proper racehorse.
Every jockey who has sat on ME has told us that he is a quality animal, but for one reason or another he has always failed on the track. On the face of it his maiden win proves nothing as he easily had the form to win a decent maiden, but I think there was a lot more to it than that. We’d always believed that he needed to be held up for a late run, but we tried different tactics on Saturday and ran him up with the pace. He won 5 lengths in a very good time – 0.7 seconds faster than the next race, also over 5 furlongs but won by a 3yo. It looks like pretty good form, and he clearly handles the heavy ground – I feel good about aiming him high again. I don’t know where he’ll run next, but it may be a group race (or we may put him away for the Doncaster sales race).
I could have a fair few runners over the next two weeks, although the weather could put paid to some of my plans. Shawhill is currently declared in the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks on Saturday. On what we’ve seen she’s not quite group 2 quality (although she may not be far short) but the race looks extremely weak by group 2 standards – if the ground comes up soft then Andre Fabre’s Macleya stands out, but the rest look much of a muchness. It could be an excellent chance for Shawhill (who should handle the heavy) to come second again…
Winker Watson may go for the July Stakes at Newmarket in ten days time. We had planned to put him away for a while, but he’s so well in himself that Pete is toying with a go at this Group 2, a race that we (the Comic Strip Heroes) have won before with Captain Hurricane (who all being well will go for the Steward’s Cup). Some of the other 2yos are close to coming out now, and if Winker runs we may look to introduce one of our unraced 2yos in the Newmarket maiden on the same day. Baldovina, who was so disappointing last time, is declared at Haydock on Thursday, but that meeting looks as if it may not survive. She looks great and her gallops work is superb, but the last run was very worrying and it may be that she’ll never deliver to her potential – it’s too early to write her off and I’ve got my fingers crossed.
There are some of the string being written off around now though. Conservation is in the July sale. I’m desperately disappointed as I owned him with a great bunch of guys and I hoped we would have a good fun syndicate. He’s had a whole host of small problems keeping him off the racecourse and we’ve decided to give up on him. Adam Eterno has been very disappointing and was sold this afternoon – I wish his new owners the best of luck. Master of the Race is in a claimer on Wednesday – assuming he isn’t claimed he also goes into the July sales. Thunderbolt Jaxon also goes into the sale.