JULY REVIEW
An incredible month saw us record 20 winners, of which seven were at Group level, including Group 1 successes for the superstar mares Kalpana and Blue Bolt. Over £2.3 million was added to our prize-money tally for the year.
The brilliant Kalpana gained a third Group 1 success of her glittering career with a fantastic win in the King George at Ascot, under a fine ride from Colin Keane. In beating a top-class international field, she took her form to a new level on the biggest of stages and looking ahead, both the Arc and a bid for a third Champions Day success will be under consideration for the dual Champion Fillies & Mares winner. The Yorkshire Oaks might be next.
Blue Bolt was among the very best three-year-old fillies in training last year, finishing second in the Group 1 Sun Chariot on her final outing, but she had always looked to have the potential to do better still at four. Impressive in victory in the Duke Of Cambridge, she stepped up again to land a first Group 1 success with a brilliant win in the Falmouth at Newmarket under Colin Keane, getting the better of the Irish 1,000 Guineas/Coronation winner Precise. That form was confirmed with further Group 1 glory at Deauville in the Prix Rothschild and she is likely to go for a famous hat-trick of top-level victories in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown in September.
Item had looked a top-class colt in the making when winning the Dante in May, when he had the subsequent Derby winner back in third. The ground went against him at Epsom, but he bounced straight back with a very impressive win in the Group 2 York Stakes, coming home clear under Rob Hornby from a quality field. The son of Frankel out of Canadian Group 1 winner Capla Temptress is a hugely exciting colt and is now likely to head for the Juddmonte International, which is shaping up into a vintage renewal.
Flora Of Bermuda has been in sparkling form, recording a second successive win in the Group 3 Summer Stakes at York before following up 19 days later in the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, with James Doyle on board on both occasions, proving her stamina on her first attempt at seven furlongs. She is a wonderful mare, is now three from four this season and she will likely step back up to Group 1 company next time, with the City Of York or the Sprint Cup both possibilities.
Mount Atlas progressed from handicap company to placing at Listed level last term, but has found further improvement this year and following three fine efforts in defeat, he gained a deserved first success at Pattern level when landing the Group 3 Silver Cup at York under a strong ride from P J McDonald. He holds entries in the Geoffrey Freer and Lonsdale Cup, either of which could be realistic targets.
A winner at Kempton Park on her debut in late May, Moonrise was just touched off in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot but made it two wins from three starts to win the Group 3 Princess Margaret Japan Cup Stakes back at Ascot, with Oisin Murphy on board. She has fast developed into a high-class two year old and the Lowther is likely to be her next step.
Runner-up on his previous two starts, Hatteen won a valuable and competitive novice at Doncaster in the manner of a useful colt, with P J McDonald doing the steering. That gained him a free entry for the St Leger and, though he has some way to go to warrant a tilt at that level, he took another sizeable step forward when just touched off by another sharp improver at Glorious Goodwood, the pair finishing well clear.
A winner at Newbury last time out, the progressive Mythical Bay landed a big handicap prize when successful at Newmarket’s July Festival, Callum Hutchinson gaining a notable success on the son of New Bay by the narrowest of margins.
Shrimp Shady has made considerable progressive this year, including a win in the Chester Plate, and he won his third race of the season with a narrow win at Newbury under regular partner Rob Hornby, prevailing by just a nose. He doesn’t look the type to win too far, but continues to go the right way and he has the right attributes to land a big staying handicap prize in time.
The Lost King had done nothing but progress this year prior to finishing down the field at Royal Ascot, but he bounced straight back to form with a ready success at York, travelling powerfully and keeping on strongly under P J McDonald to win with plenty to spare. There is a Heritage Handicap back on the Knavesmire at the Ebor meeting that could well be next for the improving son of Kingman.
All Moonshine was done no favours by the draw on her previous start, leading her small group home in the Kensington Palace, so it was very pleasing to see her gain a fourth win from her last five starts with an authoritative victory at Newbury under Jason Watson. A highly-progressive filly, she looks capable of challenging for black type in due course. Dream Camp was also drawn on the wrong side at Royal Ascot and the daughter of Siyouni was another to return to winning ways with a taking success at Windsor under Oisin Murphy. A 4lbs rise looks fair and she is a useful filly with plenty more to offer.
Crazee Icon made it 2-3 on the Roodee with a comfortable win under Jason Watson, who had also been on board when the filly scored at the track in June. She continues to progress and ran well in a competitive event at Glorious Goodwood on her latest outing.
Allegrino gained her second win of the year with a battling success at Yarmouth in the hands of William Buick. A model of consistency, she has been in the frame on all six starts since her debut and should continue to acquit herself very well.
Last Verse signed off for us with a win at Chepstow under Oisin Murphy, before selling at the Tattersalls July Sale, and we wish his new connections the best of luck with him.
There were five winners from our team of two year olds, including some notable performances and the aforementioned Moonrise’s success at Group level.
Fast Track had placed twice in maiden/novice company prior to a good effort when finishing in midfield in the Queen Mary. She made the most of an excellent opportunity at Beverley, P J McDonald making all on the daughter of Blue Point to win by a wide margin. She has since run a fine race in defeat when runner-up in a valuable novice event at Glorious Goodwood and looks capable of picking up some black-type in the near future. Scommessa Sicura is another that will be stepping up in grade following an all-the-way success at Newmarket on her fourth start, the form of which has since been boosted. She had been unlucky not to get off the mark previously and is a filly with plenty of potential.
Gentle Hurricane made a successful debut at Salisbury, defying his inexperience to get the better of a previous winner in promising fashion under Oisin Murphy. He holds a Champagne Stakes entry and looks a very bright prospect.
Wise And Wonderful made it third time lucky when scoring at Epsom under David Probert, and she ran much better than the result suggests when not getting the gaps in a competitive nursery at Goodwood. She is on a workable mark and there should be further success to come this summer.