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SEPTEMBER 2011

We had a lean spell from the middle of July until September with most of our horses having a viral challenge which took a bit of shaking off. Hence, it was wonderful to see PRINCE OF JOHANNE dominate the field to win the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket. His owners, David Storey and Tony Henderson had bought him as their first racehorse at the Horses In Training Sales. He has improved with every run this year and has now won four races for us, including three this year. John Fahy gave him an excellent ride and it was a excellent result for everyone connected with the yard.

CELTIC SULTAN, who has won a race every season he has raced, and did it again at Kempton when winning a seven furlongs handicap under Franny Norton. He showed his usual battling qualities to prevail by three parts of a length. A seven year old, the handicapper had given a chance dropping him to a mark of 79. It was his lowest ever rating and he took advantage of it.

DISTANT MEMORIES, who won the Listed Pontefract Castle Stakes over a mile and a half earlier in the season, finished fourth in the Listed Foundation Stakes at Goodwood last time. He is slowly returning to form.

EAGLE ROCK has improved throughout the year and appreciated the step up to a mile and a half for the first time at Ripon. Andrew Mullen gave him an excellent front running ride. He goes 3 year old hurdling this Winter.

ELAND ALLY has been a model of consistency this year winning at Doncaster during the summer and being runner-up on three other occasions. Second at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting in a five furlongs handicap against older horses, he was beaten less than a length. He will improve with age in the coming seasons.

JULY & AUGUST 2011

DISTANT MEMORIES attempted to gain successive victories in the Group 3 Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor but he could only finish sixth. A Listed winner at Pontefract earlier in the year, hopefully he will re-find his form shortly.

EAGLE ROCK is now qualified for handicaps having run three times in maiden company. Placed on two of those occasions, he was runner-up at Ripon on his debut over a mile before stepping up to ten furlongs last time. He will appreciate a little further in distance.

ELAND ALLY was not suited by the undulations in the track at Ripon at the beginning of August but, prior to that, he had run some very good races including when beaten a short head at Haydock. He showed his return to form at Doncaster on his latest run.

MY SINGLE MALT has been frustrating so far this season, although he is without a win this year, he has run two solid races during August at Thirsk and Carlisle.

PRINCE OF JOHANNE has progressed throughout the year and I was very pleased with his performance at Glorious Goodwood finishing a close fifth. Beaten less than three and a half lengths, the form of the race has worked out extremely well with both Modun and Our Joe Mac winning since. He ran well at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting and could take in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket in September.

Amongst the juveniles, BEYOND CONCEIT is a nice son of Galileo out of a Lingfield Oaks Trial winner. Third on both his starts at Redcar and Haydock, he is bred to come into his own over middle distances next year. Having stayed on well on his debut, he appreciated the step up to a mile at Haydock but had the misfortune to bump into what appeared a very promising colt of Jeremy Noseda’s.

NEVER PERFECT made an encouraging start to his career when fourth on his debut at Newcastle in August. Related to a number of smart performers in Germany, he is similar to Beyond Conceit being a colt by Galileo and one who is bred to improve next year. He stayed on nicely under Jamie Spencer and will benefit from the experience. We may give him another run or two before the end of the year before hopefully making a lovely three year old.

JUNE 2011

BALCARCE NOV finished second in a Nottingham conditions event behind Rio De La Plata last June but managed to go one better in the same race this time. Making all the running under Jamie Spencer, he ran out a convincing three and three quarters of a length winner. He has run twice since in competitive handicaps at York and Haydock.

DEFENCE OF DURESS filled the runners-up berth for the second consecutive time at Ripon on his latest start. The handicapper has left him alone on a rating of 81 and hopefully it is only a matter of time before he goes one better. Ideally suited by some ease underfoot, he stays a mile and a half well and should get further.

I was delighted with DISTANT MEMORIES’s victory in the Listed Pontefract Castle Stakes. It was only the second time he attempted a mile and a half and he battled on well to win by a nose. He holds an entry in the John Smith’s Cup at York on Saturday 9th July. He has won 6 times and earned nearly £150,000 and has been a very good horse for us and hopefully with more to come.

ELAND ALY confirmed the promise on showed on his reappearance at York by winning over five furlongs at Doncaster. Narrowly beaten over five and a half furlongs at the same track next time, he is six pounds higher than when winning.

KEEP SWINGING made his racecourse debut at Redcar in a seven furlongs maiden. A colt by Oasis Dream, he was keen early on before getting tired in the latter stages. He will try a little shorter distance next time out.

PARC DE LAUNAY is a horse I have always liked and he continues to go from strength to strength. A son of Monsieur Bond, he maintained his unbeaten record in a novice event at Newcastle. He beat three previous winners and I hope he has a bright future. We have given him a couple of entries at York’s Ebor meeting including the Gimcrack Stakes.

I am pleased the way PRINCE OF DANCE is progressing. Bought towards the end of last season, he has had half a dozen runs this year including two encouraging performances at Haydock and Newcastle. Runner-up at the latter venue, he was only beaten a neck and has been raised two pounds as a result to a mark of 85. He appears to appreciate some ease in the ground and will hopefully go one better shortly.

MAY 2011

BALCARCE NOV couldn’t handle the over-watered ground in the Thirsk Hunt Cup, but bounced back with a good third in a competitive handicap at Chester when dropping back to seven furlongs, he was only beaten a length and a half and will head to Nottingham at the start of June for the same conditions stakes he finished second in last year.

DISTANT MEMORIES ran well on firmish ground be second to Aidan O’Brien’s Await The Dawn in the Group 3 Huxley Stakes at Chester at the start of the month. He was unable to show his true form when only seventh in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown last time behind the Derby and Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe winner Workforce. I suspect that whilst he doesn’t like the ground to be too firm, he cannot handle loose or over-watered ground.
 
PRINCE OF JOHANNA continues to progress winning his second race of the season at Ripon over a mile and a quarter. We felt he was worth a crack at a good handicap and he produced a career best when finishing runner-up to Nanton in the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar. He has now won three of his last four races and is running off a career high mark but I hope there is even more to come from him.

We intend dropping WALVIS BAY back to five furlongs after he appeared to get tired late on over six furlongs on his return to action at Ripon. The handicapper has also dropped him a pound and he may go to York, where he has won in the past, on Friday 10th June.

Amongst the three year olds, I have always liked DEFENCE OF DURESS and he has run two solid races this season. He was second at Newcastle and I think he can do better with some give in the ground.

ELAND ALLY ran well without winning as a two year old but I thought he ran particularly well on his reappearance at York’s Dante Festival. Fourth in a five furlongs handicap for three year olds, he has only been raised a pound and will go to Doncaster for a maiden over the minimum trip on the 4th June.

Having won at Thirsk on his reappearance off a mark of 76 in a five furlongs handicap, ON THE HIGH TOPS was raised six pounds and acquitted himself well at Haydock when fifth in a 0-85 event. Five furlongs on good or fast ground suits him well.

PARC DE LAUNAY was our first two year old runner of the season and we were delighted to see him making a winning debut at Ripon. He overcame my reservations about the drying ground beforehand and I thought he won in good style. A half-brother to Royal Ascot winner Flashmans Papers, he is a lovely colt by Monsieur Bond and he will hopefully run in a novice race next time.

APRIL 2011

DOWNTOWN BOY was running over a mile for only the second time when finishing runner-up at Newcastle on his return to action. Rated 50, it showed he is capable of picking up a small handicap.

Having run well on his reappearance at Ripon in the same conditions event he had  won the year before, KINGS GAMBIT produced a very gutsy display to win the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown. Given an excellent ride by Jamie Spencer, he made all the running and fended off Black Spirit to win by a short head. His victory was richly deserved having run so many good races in defeat last season including at Royal Ascot and in the John Smith’s Cup.

LOOSE QUALITY is now qualified for handicaps having run his best race so far at Doncaster at the end of the month. All three of his runs have been over six furlongs but I am hoping he will stay a bit further. The handicapper has given him a mark of 60 and that is the route he will go down next.

A dual winner last year, MY SINGLE MALT ran a pleasing first race of the season at Pontefract. Although he won over a mile at Newcastle, I think he was suited by the drop back to six furlongs and the plan is to aim him at the decent three year old sprint handicaps.

ON THE HIGH TOPS, who won first time out as a two year old last season, repeated the trick on his first run as a three year old at Thirsk. Raised six pounds to a mark of 82, he has a lot of speed and I hope he will continue to make his mark in three year old handicaps before taking on the older horses later in the season.

POWER FORCE, a winner in South Africa, had his first run for us in a lady amateur riders’ event at Doncaster. Our secretary Katie Cooper rode him and he kept on well in the closing stages to finish fifth. We are still learning about him but I am hopeful he will make his mark in seven furlongs and one mile handicaps.

PRINCE OF JOHANNE isn’t the most straightforward of horses but he has plenty of ability as he demonstrated at Windsor towards the backend of last year. He continued in a similar vein at Haydock in a ten furlongs handicap winning by two lengths off a rating of 78. The fifth home Danderek has won since to give the form a boost. The handicapper has raised him seven pounds since.

HORSES IN TRAINING

OLDER HORSES

BALCARCE NOV (ARG) 6 b h Romanov (IRE) – Rosada Fitz (ARG)
Still a colt, he ran some good races in defeat last season including been placed twice at Meydan. A close third in the Thirsk Hunt Cup on ground which he would have found soft enough, he may well be targeted at that again this time. He is likely to start off in a Listed race at Doncaster but invariably needs a run before he reaches his peak. Fast ground and a turning track bring out the best in him with a mile being his trip.

CALDERCRUIX (USA) 4 ch g Rahy (USA) – Al Theraab (USA)
Started last season well with a couple of victories at Redcar and bounced back to form with a good run at Ayr in September. I have been pleased with him during the winter and he is working nicely. Officially rated 87, I feel his mark is OK and I would like to think he will improve as a four year old. A mile and a quarter is ideal.

CELTIC SULTAN (IRE) 7 b g Celtic Swing – Farjah (IRE)
He always pays his way and was a winner at Ayr last season. He reappeared at Thirsk in April but missed the break and unable to dominate, which he likes to do. The ground wasn’t ideal either because he likes a sound surface and Micky (Fenton) felt they had overwatered. Seven furlongs on fast ground is what he wants and I am sure he will pick up another race or two this time.

DISTANT MEMORIES (IRE) 5 b g Falbrav (IRE) – Amathia (IRE)
I was delighted with him last season winning a valuable handicap at York and the Group 3 Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor. Indeed, he never finished out of the first three in any of his six races and ran an excellent race to fill third position in the Group 2 Prix Dollar at Longchamp during Arc weekend. Hopefully, he will improve again and he will be competing at Group 1 level. He isn’t far off and he may go to France again at the end of April for the Prix Ganay. We considered running him in the Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket but the ground was too quick. He does likes some ease underfoot and is a very good horse when encountering such conditions. The other option we have is the Group 3 Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh.

KINGS GAMBIT (SAF) 7 ch g Silvano (GER) – Lady Brompton (SAF)
A smashing horse who ran some fantastic races last season winning at Ripon before finishing a short head second in the John Smith’s Cup at York and runner-up at Royal Ascot in the Wolfreton Stakes. He appears to love York and may well go back there for the Dante meeting in May. He will follow a similar programme and is at his best on fast ground.

POWER FORCE (SAF) 5 b g Jet Master (SAF) – Opposition (SAF)
A new arrival, he joined us in November having come from South Africa. Officially rated 77, he hasn’t had a lot of racing but won over seven furlongs in South Africa a couple of years ago. He starts off in a ladies race at Doncaster in April and will be running over seven furlongs and a mile.

PRINCE OF DANCE 5 b h Danehill Dancer (IRE) – Princess Ellen
Previously trained by Tom Dascombe, he was bought by David Story in October and he kindly sent him to us at the end of last year. We getting to know him a little better and I have no doubt he is a horse with ability. His best form has been around a mile. A former Listed winner, the handicapper has given him a chance dropping him to a mark of 89.

PRINCE OF JOHANNE (IRE) 5 gr g Johannesburg (USA) – Paiute Princess (FR)
Quite a character, with some of his own ideas but very sound with plenty of ability. He won at Windsor with cheekpieces towards the backend of last season and had run well earlier at Haydock. He likes turning tracks and good ground.

WALVIS BAY (IRE) 4 gr g Footstepsinthesand – Limpopo
A speedy horse who will continue to run in sprint handicaps over five and six furlongs. Despite winning on fast ground at Ripon last year, he is better with some cut in the ground and is a grand horse when conditions are in his favour. I would say a stiff five or easy six furlongs is perfect for him.

THREE YEAR OLDS

DEFENCE OF DURESS (IRE) b c Motivator – Ultra Finesse (USA)
A good looking quality horse by Motivator who we hope will develop into a useful staying three year old. I was very pleased with his progress last year improving with each run culminating in victory at Nottingham in October. He is maturing all the time and may start off at Doncaster towards the end of April.

DOWNTOWN BOY (IRE) br g Kheleyf (USA) – Uptown (IRE)
Without a win in half a dozen runs last year, he suffered with sore knees but is training well this time. He is officially rated 50 and we will keep him to low key events over seven furlongs and a mile.

ELAND ALLY b g Striking Ambition – Dream Rose (IRE)
He is a horse I like but he has been slow to come to hand. Placed in four of his six races last term, I don’t think he stayed seven furlongs when we tried him a couple of times last year. Therefore we will concentrate on five and six furlongs handicaps on fast ground. I hope there is more to come from him.

MY SINGLE MALT (IRE) b c Danehill Dancer (IRE) – Slip Dance (IRE)
A dual winner last season including the Blaydon Nursery at Newcastle in August. Despite winning over a mile, we feel he is more suited by shorter trips hence he made his reappearance over six furlongs at Pontefract in April. I was delighted with the run and he is much sharper for it. I don’t think he is badly treated off a mark of 79 and we will look towards the decent six furlongs three year old handicaps on good or fast ground. He doesn’t want it too slow.

ON THE HIGH TOPS (IRE) b g Kheleyf (USA) – Diplomats Daughter
A busy active horse who won on his racecourse debut at Newcastle last year and repeated the trick on his return to action at Thirsk in April. The handicapper has raised him six pounds and we hope he will continue to improve. Five furlongs is his trip.

PINK DIVA (IRE) ch f Giant’s Causeway (USA) – Saoire
A very nicely bred filly, she will start off at Pontefract over a mile and a quarter at the end of April. I was pleased with her last year because she improved from her debut at Newcastle to win next time at Pontefract. We have given her time and hopefully she will progress as a three year old.

WILD HYSTERIA (IRE) gr g Verglas (IRE) – White Wisteria
He is very tough and has never taken a lame step since he started work. Narrowly beaten twice at Redcar last year, he will go back there on Easter Monday for a 0-60 five furlongs three year old handicap. He will run at a modest level but I will be disappointed if he can win a race or two. He certainly deserves to.

TWO YEAR OLDS

I have some very nice two year olds for the season. Of the early ones, I particularly like KEEP SWINGING (an Oasis Dream colt), MEAN IT (colt by Danehill Dancer out of Lilssa), PARC DE LAUNAY (a colt by Monsieur Bond) and an unnamed Haafhd gelding.

Comments by MARK HOWARD, Racing UK and author of Ahead On The Flat and One Jump Ahead

Castle Farm Stables, Hazlewood, Tadcaster, N.Yorks, LS24 9NJ