The yard had an excellent 2017 with 33 winners and a few of the horses racking up multiple successes. While life may not be so easy for those that had very successful campaigns and start the year off career high marks, we have plenty of progressive types, especially amongst the three-year-olds to suggest we have plenty to look forward to. However, the extremely wet and snowy winter has left us a few weeks behind and the runners may need their first couple of runs but it is a long season and we are due a few drying weeks.
Older Horses
Biotic
7bg Aqlaam – Bramaputra (Mrs B Sumner & Mr B R Millman)
Four-time winner who has struggled with the handicapper in recent seasons but starts 2018 off a mark of just 61 (85 at his peak) and hopefully we can get him back in the winner’s enclosure as he looks well at home.
Champagne Champ
6bg Champs Elysees – Maramba (Five Horses Ltd)
Useful staying handicapper who was very consistent without winning on the flat last season. He has had a good winter over hurdles with a win at Chepstow and was not disgraced when fifth in a competitive Queens Prize at Kempton. He will go to Newbury for a 2m2f handicap he was second in last year before having a break.
Concur
5chg Approve – Tradmagic (Miss G J Abbey)
Dual winner of Amateur handicaps at Redcar and Hamilton last season. He will be used as a schoolmaster for the yard’s apprentice/amateurs this year.
Duke of Bronte
4bg Mount Nelson – Reaf (Perfect Match)
Progressive three-year-old that had an excellent first campaign. He sprung a shock when winning at 100/1 in a Newbury maiden and proved that was no fluke by winning again at Newbury before landing a £100,000 handicap at Ascot. He has strengthened up nicely over the winter and as his half-sister Taws improved 12lb from three to four, we are hoping for similar with him and he could be absolutely anything this year.
Glory Of Paris
4bg Sir Prancealot – Paris Glory (David Little The Links Partnership)
Strong sort that made an impressive reappearance as a three-year-old when winning on handicap debut but did not progress quite as expected last season. He has started well on the AW with a win at Chelmsford and just got caught on the line on heavy ground at Bath last time out. Still 4lb lower on the turf and hopefully he can exploit that mark in due course.
Handytalk
5bg Lilbourne Lad – Dancing With Stars (Cantay Racing)
Useful 2yo that came back to life last year with a win at Bath and three narrow defeats. He showed he was particularly effective round Epsom and although high enough off 85, he should provide his owners with plenty of fun this year.
Hawridge Flyer
4bg Sir Percy – Strictly Lambada (Eric Gadsden)
Lightly raced four-year-old that has joined the yard for 2018. He showed plenty of promise when placed on his first two starts in strong Newbury maidens before getting off the mark when an odds-on favourite at Ffos Las.
Hawridge Glory
4bg Royal Applause – Saint Lucia (Eric Gadsden)
Successful three-year-old campaign that saw him win two races and progress from 58 to 70. Hopefully he can improve again this year and he was particularly effective under Pat in amateur races so that opens up plenty of options.
Master Carpenter
7chh Mastercraftsman – Fringe (David Little The Links Partnership)
Showed he retains all his ability when comfortably winning on soft ground at York’s Dante meeting. Unfortunately, the handicapper put him up 10lb and it made life much harder but again showed his liking for the Knavesmire when fourth there in October. He is back down to a winnable mark and the big handicaps at York will once again be on his agenda.
Sir Plato
4bg Sir Prancealot – Dessert Flower (The Sir Plato Partnership)
Surprised us by emulating Sir Roderic and winning five times as a three-year-old, improving 24lbs in the process. He is particularly effective round Windsor (four wins were there) and while he is high enough in the handicap, he will provide his owners with plenty of fun on Monday nights at the riverside venue.
Sir Roderic
5bg Roderic O’Connor – Begin The Beguine (David Little The Links Partnership)
Highly progressive three-year-old with five wins on his favoured soft ground and ended 2016 rated 96. Last year was tough for him, rarely getting his optimum conditions and often running in extremely competitive Heritage Handicaps, he appeared to have lost his confidence. He has had a wind op and is now rated 79 so is a very well handicapped horse and will have come on plenty for his run at Doncaster.
Sweet Pursuit
4bf Pastoral Pursuits – Sugar Beet (Always Hopeful Partnership)
Tough filly that proved extremely consistent last year, especially on soft ground with two wins to her name at Lingfield and improved 14lb. She looks to have strengthened up again from three to four and should pay her way in sprint handicaps.
Zulu
4bg Cockney Rebel – Pantita (Howard Barton Stud)
Showed promise when placed in two maidens early last season and has had his problems since. Hopefully we can get him back on track as he is well handicapped.
Three Year Olds
Achianna
3chf Gemologist – Adoradancer (Mr C Demetriou)
Strong filly that showed promise in her maidens, finishing fifth on her third and final run at Ascot. She goes handicapping off 56 and should be up to winning races.
Airshow
3chg Showcasing – Belle Des Airs (Mrs H Slade)
Speedy two-year-old that was placed on five of his first seven runs before ending the year with a win in a competitive Newbury Nursery. Up 4lb for that success, he should have a good three-year-old season.
Crystal Casque
3chf Helmet – Crystal Moments (The Dirham Partnership)
Lightly raced two-year-old that finished second on her handicap debut at Kempton in November. She has done well over the winter and should be in for a good season.
Daddies Girl
3bf Elzaam – La Cuvee (Daddies Girl Partnership)
Tough and busy two-year-old with three wins to her name and over £35,000 in prize money, she came ever so close to black-type when fourth on her final start at Newbury. Things will be harder this year off a mark of 91 but she has a good attitude.
Hastenplace
3bf Compton Place – Hasten (Mr and Mrs J Laws)
Showed ability at two and disappointing she did not do better in handicaps but could be a well handicapped three-year-old.
Livingstones Quest
3bg Showcasing – Maramba (Five Horses Ltd)
Half-brother to Champagne Champ who got off the mark at the third attempt when winning nicely at Ffos Las. Should improve from two to three and looks well handicapped off 71.
Master Grey
3grg Mastercraftsman – Market Day (David Little The Links Partnership)
Showed promise on all three runs on soft ground at two but was gelded and put away for a three-year-old campaign. Starts the campaign off a workable mark and will hopefully improve as he steps up in trip.
Ragstone View
3bg Requinto – Highland Miss (Rioja Raiders 04)
New addition to the yard, having won a five furlong event at Lingfield for Richard Hughes. Starts his life here off a mark of 72 and will hopefully be winning races for his new owners.
Red Miracle
3bf Dylan Thomas – Under Milk Wood (Seasons Holidays)
Well bred filly that made a promising debut when fifth at Salisbury but just went a little bit weak at the backend of the season. Starts handicapping off 62 and has done well over the winter.
Rio Santos
3chg Casamento – Midnight Flower (The Rio Santos Partnership)
Not beaten far when sent handicapping as a two-year-old and hopefully he will be competitive this season.
Spot Lite
3bg Compton Place – High Class Girl (Mr C Saunders)
Showed ability in his maidens at two and from a useful sprinting family that did particularly well at three (dam a half-sister to Gladiatrix and Mattamia who were multiple winners for the yard). He has done well over the winter and should have a good year.
Two Year Olds
The very wet winter has meant that we are a little bit further behind with the two-year-olds this time around but we have a nice bunch and plenty to look forward to both in the early part of the year and for the future.
Ardimento (13th April)
2bc Roderic O’Connor – Begin The Beguine (David Little The Links Partnership)
Full brother to Sir Roderic, who had such a good three-year-old career when winning five races.
Bonneville (18th February)
2bc Champs Elysees – Aspasi (David Little The Links Partnership)
First foal out of a Niarchos mare that is a half-sister to Ershaad, third in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat.
Bonnie Blue (12th March)
2bf Harbour Watch – Bonnie Grey (Howard Barton Stud)
First foal of Bonnie Grey who was a star for the yard as a two-year-old, second in the Group 3 Prestige Stakes at Goodwood and made a winning debut in May.
Grayzee (29th March)
2grc Zebedee – Curl (David Little The Links Partnership)
First foal of Curl, a winner over 1m3f but most importantly a half-sister to Master Carpenter.
Greeley (10th April)
2bc Sir Prancealot – Hannah Greeley (The Greeley Syndicate)
Fourth foal and half-brother to a couple of winners out of a sire we have enjoyed plenty of success with (Glory of Paris and Sir Plato).
Lady Wolf (5th April)
2bf Kuroshio – Angry Bark (Howard Barton Stud)
Half-sister to four winners, including five-time winner Arthur’s Secret. Sire a high-class sprinter in Australia.
Mawde (20th January)
2chf Sir Prancealot – Rise Up Lotus (The Mawde Syndicate)
First foal. Dam a 5f 2yo winner and a half-sister to Roi De Vitesse who was a very useful two-year-old for the yard, finishing second in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes.
Power Seeker (17th March)
2bc Power – Eclat Royale (Five Horses Ltd)
Dam unraced from the family of Maramba, dam of Champagne Champ and Livingstone’s Quest.
Prince of Darkness (17th February)
2brc Dalakhani – Reaf
Half-brother to very useful stayers Duke of Bronte and Taws.
Ski Mist (29th March)
2grf Hellvelyn – Piste (Miss G J Abbey)
Dam a dual 5f winner and half sister to Listed placed Black Cherry.
Steeve (31st March)
2chc Lethal Force – Club Tahiti (Seasons Holidays)
Dam a 6f debut winner and has already produced a three-time winner in Tahiti One.
Sufficient (14th April)
2grf Showcasing – Good Enough (Whitsbury Manor Stud and Mrs H Slade)
Half-sister to five winners including the very smart Oasis Dancer and Smart Enough.
Unnamed (29th February)
2bc Intello – Aneedah (Eric Gadsden)
Dam a 1m winner that was placed at Listed level and is a half-brother to dual 6f winner.
Unnamed (27th March)
2bg Dutch Art – Clorofilla (Mr B R Millman)
Dam a dual Group 3 winning sprinter over 5/6f.
Unnamed
2bf Foxwedge – Miss Dutee (Mr and Mrs J Laws)
Half-sister to two winners and dam a dual 6/7f winner.