Despite the weather’s best efforts we held a successful owners morning on Saturday, with around 40 people seeing their horses in the yard and been put through their paces on the gallops. The owners were also able to take home a stable tour and detailed below is our string, with comments, for 2016:
Older Horses
Azure Amour
4bf Azamour – Al Euro – The Dirham Partnership
Had a successful 3yo campaign and proved herself to be a tough filly, winning at Bath and was unfortunate not to double up on her final outing at Kempton. Should improve again this season and her ability to handle quick ground should be an asset.
Biotic
5bg Aqlaam – Bramaputra – Mrs B Sumner
Progressive individual that has won four times as he has been stepped up in trip through his career. He has risen from an initial mark of 55 to 85 and we are hoping he will improve again as a 5yo, especially if he stays 1m6f/2m.
Caerleon Kate
4chf Medicean – Towaahi – Five Horses Ltd
Filly that was plagued with problems last season but hopefully she has strengthened up for some time off and can take advantage of a very low handicap mark.
Champagne Champ
4bg Champs Elysees – Maramba – Five Horses Ltd
Lightly raced 4yo that was always going to improve on whatever he did at three, so it was a bonus to record two easy soft-ground successes at Ffos Las. He is much stronger this season and will progress again as he steps up in trip.
Cotton Club
5bg Amadeus Wolf – Slow Jazz – The Links Partnership
Tough gelding that has excelled since stepping up to staying distances last summer and recorded his third success in eight months when winning at Chelmsford in February. Now up to a career high of 86, he has had a short break and will go for the Queens Prize at Kempton next week.
Eugenic
5bg Piccolo – Criac Sa Ceili – Mr C Scott
Injuries have kept him off the track for 18 months but showed ability at three, winning at Salisbury and subsequently ran well in defeat. He’s well handicapped if staying sound.
Havana Beat
6bg Teofilo – Sweet Home Alabama – Mr Tony Bloom
Exciting addition from Andrew Balding who showed smart form last year, a highlight been third in the Yorkshire Cup and is currently rated 105. Hopefully the change of scenery will perk him up and he will be campaigned along similar lines to Sergeant Cecil with the Melbourne Cup the ultimate aim.
Icebuster
8chg Iceman – Radiate – The Links Partnership
Consistent gelding that has returned in good form since eighteen months off the track with a couple of seconds at Wolverhampton this winter. Handicapped to win again off 75 but does need a strong pace to be seen at his best.
Isis Blue
6bg Cockney Rebel – Bramaputra – Cantay Racing
Returned from two years off in great form at Kempton this winter and enjoyed the drop back to a mile to win convincingly in January. Was travelling well when hampered and unseated rider last time – he’s handicapped to win again and runs at Kempton on Wednesday.
Marcano
4bg Arcano – Aquatint – The Links Partnership
Frustrating individual that looked set for a bright future when third to Adaay and Kodi Bear on his debut before winning his maiden in good style at Salisbury as a two-year-old. However, he never really fired last season but has dropped to a mark of 65, he’s very well treated if we can get him back on track as his home work is as good as ever.
Master Carpenter
5chh Mastercraftsman – Fringe – The Links Partnership
Stable star who found his feet in top class handicaps last summer, the highlight when winning the £150,000 John Smiths Cup at York. He followed that up by chasing home the very smart Intilaaq in the Group 3 Rose of Lancaster at Haydock before his form tailed off slightly. His mark of 108 does not make him the easiest to place but his admirable attitude will always stand him in good stead.
Midnight Rider
8bg Red Ransom – Foreplay – B R Millman
Joined the yard last season and although he is not the most consistent, racked up three wins at Class 4 level. Not as effective on the AW but has had two runs to put him spot on for the turf season.
Present Accepted
9bg Presenting – Kwaheri – Mrs P N Dutfield
Last seen on the track in June 2013 but has been side-lined by a leg injury. Has had plenty of time off and should be well handicapped when he returns to hurdles and has the size and scope to do even better over fences.
Starving Marvin
8bg Hawk Wing – Oleana – Seasons Holidays
Won his bumper impressively at Warwick on his debut in January 2012 but an irregular heartbeat ended his season early. Unfortunately he then picked up a serious leg injury and was off the track for nearly four years before making his hurdling debut at Leicester. Obviously it took a while to get him 100% fit but his third run was a cracker when second to a Grade 2 winner at Sandown and while fortunate back at the Esher track when getting off the mark, it was still a decent contest. He is likely to have a break before returning over fences in the autumn.
Three-Year-Olds
Apache Song
chf Mount Nelson – Pantita – Titan Assets
Promising fourth on her debut at Windsor last August and this strong looking filly has improved nicely from two to three.
Blackdown Warrior
bg Showcasing – Showery – Brookridge Timber Ltd
Hampered by sore shins during his two-year-old career but goes handicapping off a mark of just 50 and shows plenty of speed at home to suggest he will be winning races.
Bukle
bg Approve – Rumline – Mr C H Saunders
Keen going sort who improved from his placed efforts in sprint maidens by winning a 7f nursery. Type to do well in three-year-old handicaps, especially if he settles well enough to stay a bit further.
Concur
chg Approve – Tradmagic – Miss G J Abbey
Problems limited him to just two runs at two but has done well over the winter and should be up to winning in handicap company.
Handytalk
bg Lilbourne Lad – Dancing With Stars – Cantay Racing
Useful early season 2yo, winning on debut at Windsor before finishing second to Log Out Island at Ascot. Subsequently ran with credit before coming down with pleurisy after his fourth in the National Stakes. We could not get him quite right for the autumn and it will be interesting to see how he gets on in the spring.
Lady Fontenial
bf Compton Place – Nina Fontenail – The Links Partnership
Showed promise in her maidens on turf last year but has been disappointing on the AW this winter. Perhaps a drop back in trip off a much reduced mark will see a return to form.
Mette
bf Virtual – Regal Gallery – Mrs B Sumner
Not disgraced on her only start at two in a decent Sandown maiden and should improve as a three year old.
O’Connor
chg Roderic O’Connor – Fly By Magic – The Links Partnership
Has had a few niggling problems so has been turned out in the field to strengthen up and mature and will be aimed at junior bumpers in the winter.
Plymouth Mo
bg Hellvelyn – Welcome Home – The Mo Partnership
Big gelding that had three runs on the AW for experience this winter and showed ability. Has had a short break and type to keep improving with time and experience.
Pushy Lady
bf Piccolo – Janes Payoff – K L Dare
Stayed on strongly to be beaten just three lengths on her debut at Salisbury and clearly has plenty of ability but an injury curtailed her season. Hopefully she can fulfil that potential this year.
Rajadamri
grg Hellvelyn – Crofters Ceilidh – Mustajed Partnership
Progressed in each of his maidens, finishing third on the AW at Kempton before enduring a rough race on his handicap debut. Has met with a setback but should be back for the summer.
Sir Roderic
bg Roderic O’Connor – Begin The Beguine – The Links Partnership
Showed promise in his maidens before failing to face the kickback on soft ground at Windsor on his handicap debut. A mark of 67 looks very workable and is the type to progress nicely through the handicap ranks.
St John’s
bg Aqlaam – Diam Queen – B R Millman
Lovely big gelding from a useful German family who was broken in last year but has been turned away to strengthen up and develop. Along with O’Connor he will be campaigned in junior bumpers in the winter.
Two Year Olds
Compton Lane
bc Compton Place – Dubai Affair (Dubawi) – The Links Partnership
13th Jan – Dam a winner over 5f and a half-sister to 6f Listed winner Queen’s Grace. Early foal that is bred to be speedy and certainly shows that at home. Likely to be one of our first juvenile runners.
Dravid
bc Famous Name – Sweet Power (Pivotal) – The Links Partnership
20th Jan – Dam unraced half-sister to useful three time 1m4f winner Sweet Origin and has produced two winners at 6/7f. Strong colt that is doing everything right so far and will be one of the earlier types.
Glory Of Paris
bc Sir Prancealot – Paris Glory (Honour and Glory) – Links Partnership
20th Feb – Dam a half-sister to Group 1 Prix Morny/Group 2 Molecomb winner Elusive City and has produced Vale of Paris, three time winner over 5f. Strong type that was showing a lot of speed before sustaining a leg injury when getting cast in his box. Hopefully he will be able to resume work in May.
Hellofahaste
bf Hellvelyn – Hasten (Lear Fan) – Mrs J Laws
23rd Feb – Dam a half-sister to Group 3 1m winner Fantastic View and Group 2 7f placed Weald Park as well as six other winners and has produced five winners over 7f/1m. Leggy filly with plenty of scope that has come in later than some of the other two-year-olds but is doing everything right so far.
Holyroman Princess
bf Holy Roman Emperor – Princess Ellen (Tirol) – Five Horses Ltd
4th May – Dam runner up in 1000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes and third in Nassau and produced 1m Listed winner Prince of Dance, 5f Listed placed Candelabro and 28 time winner La Estrella. Extremely well bred filly that has just started cantering.
Ice Pac
bf Paco Boy – Arctic Char (Polar Falcon) – Miss Gloria Abbey
8th April – Dam three time winner including 7f Listed and a half-sister to six winners, including three at Black-Type level. Dam produced four winners over 5f-1m, including Listed placed Black Cherry. Filly currently on the weak side so has been given some time off to mature and strengthen up.
Sir Plato
bc Sir Prancealot – Desert Flower (Intikhab) – The Sir Plato Partnership
10th May – Dam a half-sister to 4 winners from 6f-1m4f. Well-built colt that has done everything asked of him so far and should be ready to run in about a month.
Sweet Pursuit
bf Pastoral Pursuits – Sugar Beet (Beat Hollow) – Always Hopeful Partnership
6th April – Dam seven time winner from 5-6f and a half-sister to 5 winners from 6-1m2f. Compact filly that is progressing with every bit of fast work and hopefully will prove as tough as her useful dam.
Unnamed
bf Harbour Valley – Golden Valley (Three Valleys) – Harts Farm Stud
26th Jan – Dam a 7f 2yo winner for the yard and a half-sister to the extremely tough Taws, a four-time winner and runner-up at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood over 2m5f/2m6f. First foal who is cantering away.
Unnamed
bf Compton Place – Charpoy Cobra (Mark of Esteem) – Mr R Toller
28th May – Dam related to four winners from 1m-1m3f. Unfortunately this filly sustained a nasty injury in the field and is currently recuperating.
Unnamed
bc Royal Applause – Saint Lucia (Whipper) – Mr Eric Gadsden
14th Feb – Dam a half-sister to 4 winners including 7f Listed winner Sir Xaar. Strong colt that looks set to be one of our earlier types and should be on the track in about 4-6 weeks.