I had several runners while I was away. Van Go Go broke her duck nicely at Redcar and goes again today. Monster Munchie won a weak maiden at Wolverhampton. Sunday Bess came out in a strong maiden at Newbury – she came fourth, which was on the face of it a disappointment, but she may step up from that. Nemo Spirit ran poorly at Newbury but he needs soft ground.
Last week Wolf Slayer ran poorly in a Bath handicap. She would have needed the run but she couldn’t go at the 5f pace from the start and if she does anything this year it will surely have to be over further. A new horse came out – Ash Cloud was bought by Manor House with the intention of selling her on but she picked up an injury and we had to keep her. She missed the whole of her 2yo year – we finally got a race in to her in the week and she performed moderately, running down the field in sixth. She is a good looking daughter of Hurricane Run – it may take a little time to get her fighting fit but she could yet be progressive.
On the mare front; 13 of my 15 mares are pregnant now. Shawhill dropped a bay colt by Gentlewave last week and all is well. Park Acclaim has scanned empty for a third time to Selkirk – she was covered by Zamindar last Friday. Peintre D’Argent was scanned in foal with twins – this is not a good thing and one of the foetuses was ‘pinched’. She has gone back into training with William Knight and will have one final campaign.
Van Go Go goes today in a seller at Warwick. When she won at Redcar she was favoured by the conditions of the race – she received weight from all bar one of the other nine runners including 12lb from the second. There are no such conditions in todays race – she gets her fillies allowance but has a 5lb penalty for her win and is on the same weight as the colts. There are cases that can be made for several others in the race, but the fact is that they have been dropped to selling class and are unlikely to turn out to be progressive. Van Go Go is much as advertised – she is sharp, early and uncomplicated but small and lacking scope. She should run the same race as last time or better, and that form would be ample to win the average seller at this time of year. I’m hopeful but I know nothing that the market doesn’t know.