01/06/2006
Author : Mike Bass
Been here a month now and horses have settled in really well. The weather has been good although we have had quite a bit of rain, unusual for this time of year and the wet training tracks have been quite a problem.
Float’s run in the guineas was satisfactory as he wasn’t at his best and had a niggling problem with his knee. He had a week off after the race and is now fine. Because of this interruption we decided to miss the Daily News 2200 on Saturday and will rather go for the Gold Challenge 1600 WFA on the 10th of June instead. He drew badly for the July and will have to jump from the extreme outside draw. Karl Neisius has taken the ride.
This weekend is the Lonsdale Handicap 2400 where we saddle 2 runners, Jewel Case and Diamond Quest. Both have had good prep runs and are doing really well. Diamond Quest galloped particularly well this week.
Dunford and African Appeal ran in the Astrapak 1900 last Friday and both were unlucky not to do better. Dunford got hit in the eye by a flying mud clod early in the race and was a bit reluctant to gallop thereafter. The following morning his eye was swollen shut. African Appeal found himself at the tail end of the field and just had too much ground to make up in the short straight. He ran a cracker though and finished fifth, whether that performance will keep him in the top 20 on the log is difficult to say. We might have to run him in the Cup Trial on 10th June to try and qualify him for the July as I have always rated him a big runner at the weights. Glen Hatt has taken the ride.
Wonder Gold ran a lovely race first time out on Friday night to open our account up here. He has proved himself to be a very smart and game little horse and has now won 4 races.
The big sprint meeting at Scottsville on Sunday proved to be a little disappointing I thought. The going was pretty poor being a bit sticky and except perhaps for National Colour and the young Count Dubois colt Zeeno who impressed me a lot, there wasn’t much else too exciting in the group 1 races.
As we expected beforehand, Laredo Gold didn’t enjoy the poor surface and didn’t give of his best. I have been considering running him in the Gold challenge over 1600 as well, as he gives the impression that he could perhaps get the trip nowadays.
Robert Fayd’herbe is helping me again in the yard this season so I’ve been able to enjoy a few games of golf with the lads in the afternoons.
Glad to see the yard is ticking over nicely at home, Trevor and Candice are doing a good job, especially with Pocket Power who has come on nicely now that he is maturing. Good to see Naughty Prince win so well too!
Yours in Racing
Mike Bass
Naughty Prince
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