Although the ground at Windsor had become sticky which did not really suit Rex Imperator it became a rather messy race as is often the case when there are only 3 runners. Maybe he was actually beaten by a better horse and they did manage to pull 14 lengths clear of a 90 rated horse in third. His next target will be in the Weatherbys Insuarance Stakes at Doncaster on September 8th, worth £150,000 to the winner.

 We run Definightly today in the Group 3 Prix de Meautry  with Thierry Thulliez riding.  We have had to be very patient waiting for the ground he likes and he hasn't run since Ascot where he ran well.  It has been raining alot in Deauville recently, but the ground is now drying out to being sticky with heavy patches. He relished similar conditions at Maisons-Laffitte in the autumn when he won the Prix de Seine-Et-Oise Group 3 with great ease. He escapes a 4lb group penalty after it elapsed yesterday.

We run Primevere at the Curragh this afternoon in the Dance Design Group 3 for fillies over 9 furlongs. Her recent course record victory at Salisibury was boosted last night by Opera Gal's easy listed success at Windsor.

Unfortunately there was a heavy deluge of rain before the first race at Ffos Las yesterday and Steve Drowne reported that the ground was riding lose and by his race it had become soft.  It is always tempting to run but I know that Zero Money would not have performed well so he was scratched.

Our only runner today is Rex Imperator who runs in the 5.40pm at Windsor this evening with Frankie Dettori. On the ratings, he has an excellent chance of winning again but the good to soft going is a concern as I know he handles quick ground.  Not many two year olds have had the opportunity to either work or run on soft ground and I am sure the change of going on alot of todays courses will produce some unusual results.  Rex is in great form and I am looking forward to running him in the Weatherbys Insurance Stakes at Doncaster on the 8th September.

Rex Imperator

Our website seemed to crash yesterday but we are up and running again with Zero Money heading to Ffos Las for the 3.40pm. He is in great form but does require fast ground. The forecast is to be good to firm, so lets hope the rain keeps away.

Zero Money

We have got two overseas runners on Sunday with Definightly heading across the Channel to Deauville this evening to run in the Prix Du Meautry a 6 furlong Gr 3. He is now unpenalised for his Group 3 win at Maisons-Laffitte on the 1st November last year.  He relishes soft ground and if the forecasts are correct, there could be plenty of rain in Normandy during the next few days.  Primevere goes west this evening to go to the Curragh to run in the Dance Design Gr 3 for 3 year olds plus fillies on Sunday. There are likely to be alot of runners but unfortunately there seem to be very few alternative races for her in England at the moment.

I thought Loxton Lad ran a more encouraging race and he was staying on over 7 furlongs to finish 4th. I would imagine that he will have a handicap mark in the high 60's and that a mile Nursery in the Autumn should suit him. On his two previous visits to Salisbury he had played up in the preliminaries but he seems to be growing up and the threat of having his wedding tackle removed seems to have improved his demeanour.

Sergeant Troy goes to Chepstow with the headgear discarded and a tongue strap instead. It is possible that he held his breath when asked to quicken at Nottingham,  a problem that he does not seem to suffer from at home on the gallops.  He is capable of winning again but his chances are running out if this does not work.

Sergeant Troy

Ali Hope runs at Kempton this evening for the first time in a mile Median Auction Maiden Stakes.  He is an attractive son of Three Valley's that we bought at the Newmarket October sales out of a mare who won twice as a two year old and his half sister Scarlet Rocks won three races as a two year old in 2010. There is plenty of stamina in his pedigree and he is related to plenty of stayers including Jadalee and Sir Percy. He has not yet been lighting up the gallops with some of our more promising two year olds, and he is still rather mentally immature but I hope he will show plenty of promise this afternoon for the future.

Ali Hope

I was pleased with Tiger Cub yesterday, she behaved well and coped with the kickback to finish 6th in what I think will turn out to be a competitive race, there were plenty of well bred fillies, Galileo's etc., amongst them. 

Loxton Lad is our only runner today and he runs in the first race at Leicester. I hope he will improve a little for going up to 7 furlongs but his future probably lies in handicaps.

Loxton Lad

This weekend we are hoping that there will be plenty of rain either in Deauville or at the Curragh as Definightly (who has been waiting patiently)  holds two Group 3 engagements. Should he go to Ireland, he might be joined by Primevere who is entered in the Dance Design Stakes a Group 3 for fillies over 9 furlongs on Sunday.

We managed to fire two blanks at Folkestone yesterday with Dawn Glory being extremely disappointing and for no apparent reason.  For the first half of the race she seemed to be happy and travelling well but then completely faded away to finish a rather dismal second last.  At this stage I have no explanation as she is healthy and sound this morning but maybe the occasion just overwhelmed her.

Goldtrek wasn't allowed to have "the easy lead" that suits her style of running as she was being pressed to go faster than was necessary.  Maybe the handicapper will drop her a few pounds in the future but she does need fast ground for her to be seen at her best.

Tiger Cub goes to Kempton this afternoon for her 2nd outing in a mile fillies maiden race.  She is still a little physically and mentally immature and her chance of winning is more likely to be in handicaps.

Tiger Cub - Helena Halling

We have two fillies running this afternoon at Folkestone. Dawn Glory (Oasis Dream) runs for the first time in the 3.10, a 7 furlong maiden for 2 year old fillies. She's  very attractive, has a relaxed temperament and she's related to several good stayers including Kingdom Of Fife Gr1, Blueprint Gr2, Ask Gr1 and from the family of Naswaan and Nayef.  There are a few with chances but I hope Dawn Glory will be in the ''shake-up''.

Goldtrek  likes making the running on a sharp track and on fast ground so she could have conditions to suit her this afternoon. 

Bated Breath did win the best turned out award of £200 to follow up on Al Kazeem who did the same on Wednesday but unfortunately the ground was too slow for him and  it did appear that they were on the wrong side .  The trip was no problem but we definitely need to find a 5 or 6 furlong Group race on fast ground for him.

Newnton Lodge was given a good ride by James Doyle who settled him at the back of the field in the early stages and he brought him through the field to win comfortably. It was a nice introduction for a colt that has been a little difficult at home to settle and he should have enjoyed the experience.  I am planning on being patient with him as he ought to make a better three year old. 

We have no runners today as Federation is now a non-runner.

Bated Breath & Paul Vickers

My old Governor and mentor Jeremy Tree won this race with Sharpo in 1980, 1981 & 1982 and each year it rained two days before producing soft ground which Sharpo relished, so it is about time that Beckhampton won the race again!  York had a further 3mm of rain overnight and the ground is described as being good to soft.  I would have been happier with faster ground for him and that would also apply to several of the other fancied runners.  I hope being drawn 2 will suit but the draw tends to be a bit of a "lottery".  In the middle of last week he unfortunately missed 3 days exercise due to having some poison in his near-fore foot but he was ridden out all this week and is in good shape.  On Wednesday morning Bated Breath had my Subaru "off the bridle" as I steamed upsides him in his final blow-out at 43 mph!  I have been lucky to have trained several good sprinters and I am still of the opinion that he is the best one so far.  It will be quite a coup to win a Group 1 race over 5 furlongs with a horse that is yet to win a Group race or ever run over the minimum trip.

Newnton Lodge makes his debut at Sandown this afternoon in a 7 furlong maiden race at 3.15.  He is a big strong colt from the first crop of Rail Link ex Widescreen (Distant View) and from the immediate family of Zafonic and Zamindar.  He does have a tendency to be a little headstrong but I am expecting him to run well but improve for the experience.

What a terrific race Al Kazeem ran yesterday to finish 2nd to Sea Moon who was very impressive winning by 8 lengths and is now a red hot favourite for the St Leger.  It will be difficult for the handicapper to assess the race but it is likely that Sea Moon will have a rating in the low 120s and Al Kazeem is making the transition from handicaps to being a potential group winner before the season is over and what a relief he wasn't sold to Hong Kong.  There are several Group 3 races that should suit him with the Arc trial at Newbury on the 17th September, the Cumberland Lodge at  Ascot on the 1st October and the St Simon Stakes at Newbury on the 22nd October and there is also the Prix Niel, Group 2 for 3 year olds at Longchamp on the 11th September.

We have no runners today but Bated Breath is heading north with Marlborough Transport so that he is ready to run at York tomorrow where I hope they will miss most of the rain that is forecast.