MAY REVIEW
Our most successful May on record saw 23 winners added to the tally, including five black-type successes and five juvenile winners.
Just touched off in the Nassau at Glorious Goodwood last year, See The Fire’s 2024 campaign also included a third in the Sun Chariot and we have all been looking forward to this year with her. She needed the run on her return at Sandown Park, but showed her true colours when streaking clear in the Group 2 Middleton Stakes at York, pulling 12L clear of the field. It was a hugely impressive performance and she has the ability to emulate her dam, Arabian Queen, by winning at the top level – the Nassau will again be a main target.
Bellum Justum got the month off to the perfect start with a career-best effort under Oisin Murphy to land the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on the first day of the Guineas weekend. Outsider of the quartet, he looked to be helped by the first-time cheekpieces and found plenty for pressure to win in comfortable fashion. The Coronation Cup and Hardwicke are both under consideration for last year’s Nashville Derby winner.
The Foxes has been at the top of his game in recent starts, with a fourth in the Hong Kong Cup and second in the Amir Trophy in Qatar on his previous two outings, prior to returning to winning ways with a classy success in the Group 2 Huxley Stakes at Chester, with Oisin Murphy on board.
It was fantastic to see Eydon return to winning ways in the Group 3 Aston Park at Newbury, Oisin Murphy again doing the steering. Fourth in the 2000 Guineas in 2022, he has been lightly-raced since, but is a hugely-talented individual and we hope he can go on to make his mark at Group 1 level this season.
A Listed winner on the Knavesmire last summer, Tropical Storm’s return to York was a successful one, getting up in the shadows of the post to win the Listed Westow Stakes under a strong drive from Oisin Murphy. He has the option of the King Charles III or the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot next.
Enchanting looked another sprinter going places when bolting up in a competitive handicap at Goodwood under Hollie Doyle, in the process recording her third win from five starts at the track. The Stewards’ Cup looks a logical aim later this summer, given her fine record at the Sussex track. Marchogion is also a sprinter on the up, winning snugly under Ray Dawson at Newmarket in mid-month, and he remains very competitively-handicapped off his new mark.
Fox Legacy was having his first start for us when winning in great style in the Suffolk Stakes, a heritage handicap at Newmarket on 2000 Guineas day, a race we won with Bell Rock in 2021. He has options at Royal Ascot and is a very smart prospect.
There was plenty to like about Tarriance’s facile success at Beverley, the son of Frankel coming home clear under P J McDonald on his second career start. A scopey sort, he looks sure to progress, as does Blue Bolt, who was another second-time-out winner in the same colours, making all in the hands of Oisin Murphy to land a valuable novice event at Windsor. Zgharta’s maiden win at Newmarket came in a small field, but the form is already working out well and she is an exciting prospect, for which the Sandringham could be a possibility.
Candyman Stan is a lightly-raced and progressive four year old, and his handicap success at Lingfield Park in the hands of Jason Watson was a third win from his last four starts. A 5lbs rise looks fair and he could land a big handicap this term, as can Miss Information, who ran her best race to date when scoring at Newmarket under Oisin Murphy, in doing so providing the second leg of a treble on the day. Longer-term, it would be lovely to see her gain some black type.
Topteam took a good step forward on his handicap debut to win with plenty to spare at Chester under Jason Watson, the step up to 1m2f clearly suiting him well. The 7lbs rise looks fair and he has plenty more to offer, as does Best Adventure, who also received 7lbs for his Newmarket success in the hands of visiting rider Shane Foley and can score again in the coming weeks. Star Of Dubai made it third time lucky with an all-the-way success at Bath under Jason Watson and the daughter of Sea The Stars is another that should have plenty more to offer.
Hi Ya Mal made the long journey to Hamilton worthwhile with a comfortable win under David Probert, on what was just his second start on turf. The son of New Bay retains plenty of physical scope to progress and can stay further, with similar comments applying to Jet Black, who shed her maiden tag at Redcar in the hands of P J McDonald, on her second start in handicap company.
We celebrated five two-year-old winners in May, which is more than we have ever had at this stage of the season.
Humidity made a winning debut at Newbury under Oisin Murphy, defying his inexperience to make all the running. The brother to Holloway Boy has always looked a very smart individual and looks an ideal candidate for the Chesham, where he could bid to emulate his brother’s win in the race in 2022. Comical Point was another to score at the first time of asking, David Probert making all the running on the son of Blue Point to win at Salisbury. He is a speedy sort and looks an exciting juvenile for the season ahead.
Old Is Gold had run a really nice race on debut at Ascot and the son of Mehmas got off the mark at the second attempt with a ready win at Beverley under P J McDonald. He is ready for a step up in grade and is likely to head to Royal Ascot next.
Rising Empire provided our former stable star Bangkok with a first success as a sire, showing a really good attitude to get up close home in a class 2 contest at Windsor in the hands of Oisin Murphy. He could head to the Woodcote on Oaks day and is an exciting type.
Sands Of Spain showed the benefit of his debut run at Goodwood with a battling success at Carlisle under Danny Tudhope, where he looked to appreciate the cut in the ground. He looks a useful sort and is a candidate for some of the valuable sales races later in the season.