What an amazing weekend we all had in Dubai, the build up to the race had all gone so well with Cityscape thriving and training so well. Even on the night, he was relaxed in temperatures that were reaching over 30 degrees and  his race was preceded by alot of noise and excitement when a small aeroplane performed some daredevil exercises above our heads.  I was immensely proud of Cityscape who has now developed into a thoroughly professional performer and rewarding Juddmonte Farms and everyone at Beckhampton with a much deserved Group One success.  Consistency has become his trademark and the turn of foot that he showed after Await The Dawn had set suicidal fractions in the early part of the race, was immensely  impressive.  In a few strides, he put the race to bed and in the process smashed Mahbooba's course record.  He certainly gave me the impression that 10 furlongs could be within his range which opens up several more possibilities for his future races. No decisions have been made at the moment but there are races in Hong Kong, Singapore and France during May that will go into the melting pot. One thing is for sure, he is unlikely to be running in the same races as the brilliant Frankel, but at the age of 6, he has developed into a very high class racehorse with a wonderful temperament and with the ability to take travelling long distances in his stride.  We all feel extremely sorry for Steve Drowne who must have found the race very difficult to watch having ridden him so many times to victory in the past and I hope that he gets over his setback as soon as possible.  It was a dream start for James Doyle to win his first Group race in such style ! 

Cityscape continues to please and had another bowl of food at 11 pm last night and seems to be thriving out in Dubai. He went to the track at 6 am this morning and was ridden by James Doyle  and they completed a circuit on the turf together. All the training has now been done and we await with "bated breath" to see how the race unfolds tomorrow.  It was a great pleasure this morning to see so many exciting horses being trained on the track and Aidan O'Brien's group which were led by  So You Think,  all looked in good shape.  I walked the turf track and the Racing Authority have done an excellent job as there is plenty of grass and it is in good order.

So far so good with Cityscape and all the reports from Steve Raymont who is with him in Dubai are encouraging. He travelled well without losing any weight and is eating and drinking as expected, this morning he went out and had a trot and tomorrow he is likely to do a canter with James Doyle.

Secretarial Vacancy

I will be requiring a racing secretary to start  in the summer, who will be responsible for entries, declarations, liaising with Weatherbys and the IRB, booking jockeys, transport, health and safety compliance, staff issues, updating the website etc.,  Excellent secretarial skills and good written English are important, together with an opportunity to ride out.  CV's to be emailed in confidence to r.charlton@virgin.net

Cityscape completed his final piece of work over 7 furlongs on the summer gallops at Beckhampton on Saturday morning,  and he finished well clear of his lead horse. He is on his correct racing weight and he seems to have had a good preparation, although it is not easy to prepare a horse to run in the most valuable race of his life having not run since Hong Kong in December.  As in Hong Kong, when he was drawn wide he has not been blessed with a particularly helpful draw of 11 of 16 for Saturday's race.  He was picked up this morning at 4 am by Marlborough transport and I understand they left on time from Stansted at 10 am.  I gather that it had rained in Dubai this morning but that the temperatures are expected to rise from the mid 20's to the high 30's by the weekend so there will be plenty of sweaty horses as well as people no doubt ! 

By this time next week, I hope Cityscape will have arrived happily in Dubai as he is scheduled to fly from Stansted on Monday morning. He will do his final piece of work here on Saturday morning and if all goes well, he is an intended runner in the Dubai Duty Free, a $5m Group 1 race over 9 furlongs on the turf.  At present, there is a likely field of 16 runners which include three good horses from Hong Kong;  Ambitious Dragon (NZ) who has won 10 of his 17 races including five Group 1's, Californian Memory (USA) who has won two Group 1's which included the Hong Kong Cup in December and Xtension (IRE) who has twice been beaten a length and a quarter by Ambitious Dragon (NZ) recently and was a neck behind Cityscape in the Hong Kong Mile.  Presvis is trying to repeat last years success in the race and Aiden O'Brien runs Await the Dawn (USA) who was an impression winner of the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer. The field also has Dubawi Gold,  who ran so well behind Cityscape in Hong Kong and the other possible runners are;  City Style, Dark Shadow (JPN), Delegator, Musir (AUS), Mutahadee (IRE), Planteur (IRE), Rajsaman (FR), Rio De La Plata (USA), and Wigmore Hall (IRE). Cityscape looks well and he has had a good preparation here during the winter which included a mile gallops at Kempton last week but most of the opposition have had a race recently so not an easy task !

Cityscape

Spring is in the air, temperatures are rising and the horses are starting to go faster ! Touch wood, so far so good as we emerge from Winter into another exciting flat season. Most of the horses have been in a good routine as they gradually move up a gear into fast work, the ground is good although like most of the country we will need some rain fairly soon. We have no running plans at the moment but I hope the majority of the horses will be ready to run by the middle to end of April.

Cityscape on a frosty morning

Coming out for exercise

Returning home from exercise

Trader Jack leading Clowance Estate and Bishop Roko

Recent photographs taken on a very cold morning

Clowance with her first foal, a colt by Oasis Dream that was born 36 hours ago at her owner Barry Hurley's stud.  So pleased that she was not sold at Newmarket's December sales to go to Japan !  

Un named bc - Dansili ex Valencia (Kenmare) (Fr)

A half brother to 6 winners including Deportivo who won a Gr 2 over 5 furlongs.

Un named USA bc - First Defence (USA) ex Family (USA)  (Danzig)(USA)

His dam is a full sister to Danehill, Eagle Eyed and Euphonic. This is First Defence's (USA)  first crop and he was the winner of 6 races including the Forego Handicap Gr 1 when trained by Bobby Frankel for Juddmonte Farms.

Un named  USA bc - Mizzen Mast (USA) ex Skiable (Ire) (Niniski) (USA)

A half brother to Three Valley's and from the wonderful family of Hasili who is the dam of 5 Gr 1 winners.

Un named bc - Oasis Dream ex Global Trend (Bluebird) (USA) 

He is a half brother to 2 winners including Bawaardi and Estonia from the family of Intermission and Peace.

Un named bc - Oasis Dream ex Hypoteneuse (Ire)  (Sadler's Wells) (USA)

He is Hypoteneuse first foal and she was bred by The Queen and she comes from the family of Phantom Gold and Expansive.

Un named bc - Three Valleys (USA) ex Dansara (Dancing Brave) (USA) 

He is a half brother to 4 winners including Self Defence from the family of Sea Of Heartbreak and plenty of other good stayers.

Un named  bf - Dansili ex Tantina (USA) (Distant View) (USA)

A full sister to Bated Breath and a half sister to Cityscape.

Un named USA  bf -  Empire Maker (USA) ex Didina (Nashwan) (USA)

A half sister to 4 winners including Tantina, the dam of Cityscape and Bated Breath.

Un named USA bf - Exchange Rate (USA) ex Trekking (USA) (Gone West) (USA)

She is a half sister to Deck Walk and Trekking is a daughter of Didina. Exchange Rate (USA) has recently moved to Kentucky and is becoming a useful Sire.

Un named USA bf - First Defence(USA) ex Alvernia (USA) (Ayldar) (USA)

A half sister to 4 winners including Acrobatic and Alvitude.

DON MARCO   bc-  Choisir Aus) ex Dolma (Fr)  (Marchand De Sable) (USA)

He is a half brother to Thistle Bird.

MAGOG  bc - Dansili ex Margarula (Ire) (Doyoun)

He is a half brother to Rosslyn Castle and his dam won the Irish Oaks.

TARTARY (IRE)  bc  - Oasis Dream ex Tamso (USA) (Seeking The Gold) (USA) 

He comes from a very good family that includes Sanglamore.

FIRST SECRETARY  bf - Nayef (USA) ex Spinning Queen (Spinning World) (USA)

She is the third foal of her dam who won the Sun Chariot Stakes  Gr 1.

ROCKPOOL  bf - Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire)  ex Waterfall One  (Nashwan) (USA)

She is a half sister to 4 winners including Waterclock and from the family of Spout.

Un named   ch c - Compton Place ex Muffled (USA) (Mizaaya)

He is a half brother to 5 winners.

Un named IRE gr c - Dark Angel (Ire) ex Knapton Hill  (Zamindar) (USA)

He is a half brother to Pitlochry who was a winning 2 year old in 2011. His second dam Torgau won the Cheveley Park  Gr 1.

Un named (IRE)  bc - Teofilo (Ire)  ex No Quest (Ire) (Rainbow Quest) (USA)

A half brother to 5 winners including Macaw who was Gr 1 placed.

Un named bc - Teofilo (Ire) ex Rosse  (Kris) 

He is a half brother to 6 winners and from the family of Rebecca Sharp.

TELAMON (IRE)  bc - Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) ex Laureldean Express (Inchinor)

His dam was Listed placed and Canford Cliffs appears in his pedigree.

CANDOLUMINESCENCE   bf - Dansili ex Flash Of Gold (Darshaan)

She is a half sister to 4 winners including Moidore.

Un named  gr f - Excellent Art ex Molly Mello (Ger) (Big Shuffle)(USA)

She is a half sister to Brunston.

KALITHEA   bf  - Kheleyf (USA) ex Baralinka (Ire)  (Barathea) (Ire)

She is a half sister to Marlinka and from the family of Soviet Song.

Un named  bf - Montjeu (Ire) ex Freni (Ger) (Sternkoenig) (Ire)

She is a full sister to Clowance and a half sister to Keys.

Un named   bf  - Sakhee's Secret ex Isobel Rose (Ire) (Royal Applause)

From her sire's first crop and her second dam Total Love was placed in the Rockfel Stakes Gr 2.

SPIRAEA    ch f  -  Bahamian Bounty ex Salvia  (Pivotal) 

Her dam is a half sister to Strawberry Leaf and Sugar Beet.

   JUST INCASE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE LATEST VIDEO ....CLICK ON.. ' VIDEO DIARY'   2 YEAR OLDS