JUNE REVIEW
We enjoyed a spectacular June, with four winners at Royal Ascot and a first Northumberland Plate winner contributing to a record monthly tally of 32 winners, and over £1,000,000 was added to our seasonal prize-money total.
It was a memorable week at Royal Ascot, with Miss Information’s fine win in the Kensington Palace on the Wednesday our first winner of the week. She was given a very cool ride by Oisin Murphy, who rode three of the four winners during the week for us, coming through with a powerful run to hit the front in the final half-furlong. She has been such a progressive filly in the past 12 months and though she looks a candidate for black-type in due course, she could land another big handicap prize first.
Never So Brave’s win in the Buckingham Palace the following day looked the performance of a Group horse in a handicap, coming home clear of the field off top weight of 105. He had been highly thought of last year by Sir Michael Stoute, for whom he finished sixth in the Jersey, and while he holds handicap entries, races like the Lennox and City Of York Stakes could come into consideration instead.
Humidity had looked an exciting type when winning on his debut at Newbury in mid-May and he proved another astute purchase by his owner’s team, with James Doyle giving him a very good ride. In landing the Chesham, Humidity was emulating his brother Holloway Boy’s success in the same race in 2022 and, with a step up in trip likely to suit, he already looks a potential candidate for the Guineas next year.
Quai de Bethune’s success in the Golden Gates was the icing on the cake, particularly given victory had looked far from certain as they passed the post. The evidence of the photo finish showed a win for the son of Persian King by the narrowest of margins, having come from a long way back with a strong, late run and he is an exciting prospect.
Away from Royal Ascot, the Northumberland Plate is a race that has, at least in living memory, evaded us at Kingsclere, so it was fantastic to see Spirit Mixer make it third time lucky in the race under an excellent ride from Rob Hornby.
Runner-up in the race in 2022 to the exceptional Trueshan, Spirit Mixer arrived on the back of a very good second at Goodwood and he produced his customary game performance to hold off the persistent runner-up, with the pair coming clear. It is such a historic handicap to win and though the 5lbs rise will demand more, he is in fine form and hopefully there is another big pot in him this year.
Formal had won twice at two for Sir Michael Stoute and it was fantastic to see her score at Listed level at Epsom on her second start since joining us, winning the Surrey Stakes under Oisin Murphy. Out of Group 1 Falmouth winner Veracious, she looks at her best when there is some cut in the ground and hopefully she can make her mark at Group level in due course.
The beautifully-bred Blue Bolt followed up an emphatic win at Windsor in May with a very comfortable success under a penalty at Newbury, providing newly-appointed Juddmonte rider Colin Keane with a first success over here for us – though he did ride a winner for us on Elbereth at Dundalk in 2017! Blue Bolt looks an exciting filly and is one we hope can take a step up in class in her stride.
Turquino had won the first two starts of his career in March, but his progress stalled with a couple of unplaced efforts in handicap company in May. However, he got right back on track with a really impressive success at York under Oisin Murphy, bolting up on his first attempt over 1m6f. He looked well-suited by positive tactics and he is a contender for the nice staying handicaps this summer.
Regal Ulixes won his second race in a row with a classy success over a wide-margin novice winner, in doing so earning himself a tilt at the King Edward VII. Though unable to have a say in that, he is an exciting three year old with a bright future.
Dance In The Storm is an exciting three year old, recording his second win of 2025 on what was his handicap debut at Sandown Park, with Oisin Murphy doing the steering. She is from a top-class family that we know well and it would be lovely to see her go on to gain some black-type in time. Like Dance In The Storm, Gladius is by Night Of Thunder, and he too scored at Sandown Park with Oisin Murphy on board, winning for the second time from three starts. He is from the family of Australian Group 1 winner Zaaki and looks a colt of some potential.
Humam has had a busy first half of the year, but he has thrived on racing and won in fine style at York under a well-judged, front-running ride from Jason Watson. He can have a say in a big handicap this season.
Royal Approval had won twice at Newcastle at the turn of the year and he brought his course record to three wins from four starts with a comfortable success in class 2 company under P J McDonald. The first-time cheekpieces appeared to help and he looks a useful performer on that surface, as does Gallant, who brought his AW record to 2-3 with a narrow success at Lingfield Park, under a strong ride from Oisin Murphy.
Way Of Stars has looked a progressive young stayer this term and he deservedly got off the mark with a wide-margin win at Goodwood in the hands of Jason Watson. He is developing into a smart performer and could go for a valuable handicap at Haydock next. Time Allowed is another making good strides, building on his third in a warm novice at Newbury in May when scoring in great style at Southwell, with Jason Watson on board. An opening mark of 85 looks fair for this half-brother to Topanga, who gained black-type for the yard last term, and he is a lovely prospect.
Pianoforte had shown some nice form at two, but was restricted to just one run last season. It was therefore very pleasing to see him get off the mark on his second start back from a year off, getting up in the final strides in novice company at Bath in the hands of Callum Hutchinson. He can build on that and is a sprinter with plenty of upside for the future.
There was a lot to like about the attitude of Topteam, who landed a second win in a row on the Roodee with a game success under P J McDonald. A 6lbs rise looks within his capabilities and he should continue to improve, as should Best Adventure, who won for the second time in three starts with a ready victory at Sandown Park in the hands of Oisin Murphy. The son of Frankel is up 12lbs so far this year and can rate higher still.
Triple Gee has only faced a total of 11 rivals across his three starts to date, but he has taken a nice step forward on each occasion and made it third time lucky at Salisbury last time, getting the better of a 93-rated rival. He has a nice opening mark and should do well in handicap company, as can Christmas Gift, who made the most of an excellent opportunity in novice company at Windsor in the hands of Oisin Murphy and has the potential to do very well this season.
Fantasy World had run well on both starts this term and took another step forward when making all in good style at Ffos Las under Rob Hornby. There should be plenty more to come and he can take move into handicap company in his stride, as can Mister Winston, who won in the hands of Jason Watson at Chester. He had finished in the frame on all three previous starts in 2025 and he has the scope to progress.
Dream Out Loud was winning for the second time this year when scoring at York for Oisin Murphy, and it was another career-best effort upped in grade from the son of Mehmas. A 6lbs rise looks fair and there are more wins in him this year, which also looks the case with Displaying, who justified odds-on favouritism at Doncaster, Oisin Murphy again on board. He is bred to do better and looks sure to progress. Belgravian was another to score at Doncaster, winning over 1m4f on handicap debut under P J McDonald. He clearly stays well and could go over further in due course.
Musical Angel produced an improved performance to shed her maiden tag at the fifth time of asking, the daughter of Dark Angel gamely holding on after making all the running at Brighton under Jason Watson. She has the physical scope to continue to improve in the months ahead.
Cuban Girl did well to get up close home under Callum Hutchinson at Brighton, winning by the minimum. She ran a good race in defeat when runner-up three weeks later and will continue to give a very good account of herself, as will Soul Dance, who scored in great style at Nottingham at the beginning of the month and was perhaps unlucky not to follow up on her most recent start, finishing runner-up after meeting trouble in running.
Aside from our Chesham winner, there were three other nice winning juveniles in June.
Sands Of Spain had shown a good attitude to win at Carlisle at the end of May and he followed up under a penalty in quite a valuable novice at Newcastle, with P J McDonald on board. The Super Sprint looks a logical next step.
Factual defied his inexperience to win a Salisbury novice under Oisin Murphy, finishing off his race really well. He wasn’t an overly expensive breeze-up purchase at 48,000gns, but clearly has a good engine and it will be interesting to see how he fares upped in grade.
Sir Albert needed a couple of runs for the penny to drop, but he took a good step forward when winning comfortably at Newcastle under P J McDonald and the son of No Nay Never looks a good sort for nurseries.