APRIL REVIEW
We have made an excellent start to the new season, with 15 winners in April, including three black-type successes, ensuring we head into May at the top of the Trainers’ Championship.
Jonquil looked a smart individual when winning his maiden for Sir Michael Stoute last term and we were delighted to see the son of Lope De Vega win on his first start for us, landing the Group 3 Greenham Stakes in great style under Oisin Murphy. He is a tremendously exciting prospect for the season ahead and holds entries in the St James’s Palace and the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.
An hour earlier on the same card, Divina Grace had also scored at Group 3 level on her first start since joining the yard, showing an excellent attitude under David Probert to win the John Porter Stakes. A tough, classy filly, she should be set for a very exciting summer.
Almeric had won a maiden at York in October on his second and final start at two, but showed notable improvement on his return to action to win the Listed Feilden Stakes at Newmarket under Oisin Murphy, the front pair drawing a long way clear. The Prix du Jockey Club is under consideration for the son of Study Of Man.
Berkshire Whisper and Storm Star combined to provide us with a double on AW Finals day at Newcastle, both having arrived on the back of course and distances successes on their latest start and in search of a hat-trick. Hopefully their improvement can continue once switched to turf, with the former holding an entry in the Commonwealth Cup, while the latter is engaged in the Lockinge and Queen Anne.
An encouraging third on debut in December, Spanish Voice got off the mark at the second attempt with a front-running success at Newmarket in the hands of David Probert and is an exciting prospect for the future.
High Stock defied a slow start under David Probert to win a competitive renewal of the Wood Ditton at Newmarket, which bodes well for his future, given five of the last six winners have gone on to Listed/Group success. By Dubawi and from the family of Light Shift, he has always looked a smart type and is likely to head for the Dee Stakes.
Another with Chester on the agenda is Furthur, who made it third time lucky when scoring in great style in a valuable maiden at Newbury under Oisin Murphy, the final leg of a four-timer for the yard on Greenham day. He will go for the Chester Vase and hopefully he can continue to progress. Point Of Contact was the other to win at Newbury, shedding his maiden tag under Oisin Murphy with a game success, despite still looking a little inexperienced. He is another to look forward to this year.
It was hard not to be impressed by Serenity Prayer’s debut win at Newbury, as she won with plenty to spare in the hands of Oisin Murphy, in a race that has produced some top-class fillies. The form has already been franked and this daughter of Dubawi, out of a sister to Oaks winner Love, has the scope for significant progress in the coming months.
Gladius was another to make a very good impression on his racecourse bow, finishing with a sharp turn of foot to get up close home at Kempton Park, with two next-time-out winners in second and third. He is a well-bred three year old with an exciting future.
Middle Ages had shown promise in a warm maiden last summer, so it was pleasing to see him step forward to win a maiden at Ripon on his return to action, racing prominently throughout under Rob Hornby and finding plenty under pressure. He looks sure to progress and is a lovely middle-distance prospect, as is lightly-raced four year old Candyman Stan, who made a winning reappearance in handicap company at Brighton under Jason Watson and should make up into a useful handicapper this term.
Dream Out Loud took a nice step forward to win on his handicap debut at Kempton Park under David Probert and he can remain very competitive off his new mark, as can Nobleman, who won his maiden at the fourth attempt at Wolverhampton and looks a progressive middle-distance performer.