An amazing day Saturday when I had my first group winner in my own colours.
I’ve had shares of several group winners in the past. Many years ago I had a piece of a horse called Glide Path with John Hills. He was a top grade handicapper who was just shy of group class – his most notable achievement was back to back victories in the Old Newton’s Cup. He did however win the Group 3 Stockholm Cup at Taby racecourse just outside Stockholm – he won it in a three way photo ridden by Jason Weaver. He came in to the winners enclosure to a fanfare of trumpets and they raised the Union Jack up the flagpole – stirring stuff.
Winker Watson was unbeaten at two and won two group 2s in the process – he was twice odds on for a group one but didn’t run in either. He had an injury at the end of his 2yo career and never really recovered his form – he has been sold to stud at Normans Court Stud and I’ve retained a share in him. Captain Hurricane also won a group 2 at 2 – the July Stakes a Newmarket, a race that Winker would win three years later. The interesting thing about this win was that Captain Hurricane was a maiden at the time having come second in two maiden races.
Morana had gone down the same path as Captain Hurricane – two runs in maidens, second in both. Earlier in this year Ruler of my Heart broke her duck in a Listed race in Deauville. There can’t be many horses that break their duck in pattern company, but my horses are making a habit of it.
Saturday was a busy day as usual, but I had time to get down to Ascot. Jane was busy but I took the girls with me – we arrived five minutes before the race with the jockeys already on board – I just had time to shake Alan’s hand and wish him luck. We followed the horses through to the other side – Pete wandered off to watch on his own as he always does. Morana broke nicely but didn’t settle that well, perhaps because there wasn’t a huge amount of pace on. Hayley Turner pushed on on Prompted – Alan tried to cover the move, but initially he was blocked – I thought he’d blown his chance but he kept the horse balanced and the gap came again. With a furlong to go I was confident we’d win – he only won by a head but it was an assured performance.
I was thrilled afterwards and quite emotional – Steve Morana rang immediately but I was too choked to speak to him. We took the prize quickly, had a quick drink and headed home. We now have to decide what to do next.
The Book 2 sale began on Monday, and I spent ages poring through the catalogue. I gave a list of horses to Tom Goff, but he didn’t like any of them. It looked as if we would find nothing, but on my second sweep Tom said he liked lot 997, a Diktat filly out of an unraced Red Ransom mare. She was a May foal and a bit backward as a result – she wasn’t special to look at but she was nice and looked as if she could improve. We got her for 20k, which I thought was reasonable. I particularly liked the fact that she was a granddaughter of Waya (pictured below), a lovely and special American mare.
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Looby Loo comes out tomorrow at Newmarket in a listed race. It’s a massive step up in class for a horse who has only come second in a weak maiden. There’s a danger it might be an embarrassment but I think she’ll go ok – I don’t think she’ll win but she should acquit herself ok. I’d normally want her on a slower path, but she’s been slow to make her debut and we’ve got no time to play with. Marine Boy runs in the next race after a decent break – with luck it will have perked him up.