OCTOBER REVIEW
A wonderful month saw us break records for our most successful October, both in terms of prize-money and number of winners. There was also a brilliant pair of Group 1 winners to celebrate, helping us move past the £7 million prize-money mark, and over £2 million clear of last year’s record total.
Kalpana had run a very good race in defeat in the Arc and the superstar filly could not have been more impressive in victory in the Qipco British Champion Fillies & Mares 13 days later, surging clear under Colin Keane. The four year old daughter of Study Of Man had run some wonderful races this year, finishing runner-up in the Pretty Polly on The Curragh and then pushing subsequent Champion Stakes winner Calandagan close in the King George at Ascot, so it was fantastic to see her gain a second Group 1 success.
Gewan ensured we will have a Guineas horse to dream about over the winter when landing the Dewhurst under James Doyle, travelling powerfully and quickening in fine style to get the better of Gstaad, who has since gone on to land the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The son of Night Of Thunder had won his first two starts, including the Acomb at York, and showed his run in the Champagne Stakes to be just a blip with a performance that puts him right amongst the ante-post favourites for Newmarket next May. He is a hugely exciting horse for 2026.
Eydon is a hugely talented individual and it was so pleasing to see him add a first win at Group 2 level with a comfortable all-the-way success in the Gran Premio del Jockey Club in Milan, with P J McDonald giving him a very well-judged ride. He had several Group 1 performers in behind there and it would be fantastic to see him have his chance at the top level in due course.
Fantasy World was relentlessly progressive this term, winning a Ffos Las maiden in June when rated 75, and signing off with a fine win in the Listed Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot under a good ride from Rob Hornby. He has enjoyed a tremendous season and went on to sell for 600,000gns at the Tattersalls HIT Sale – we look forward to following his future career and wish his new connections the best of luck.
Spell Master missed the summer but returned to winning ways at Newcastle with Joe Fanning on board, who was riding his first winner for us. A 3lbs rise looks fair for that win on what was his AW debut, and there could be plenty more to come on the surface for his new connections (he was also sold at the Autumn Horses in Training Sale).
Berkshire Sundance has been very lightly-raced in the past couple of years and he was reappearing from an 11-month break when scoring in great style in a big-field handicap at York under P J McDonald. He has won four of his last six starts and hopefully we can have a clear run of things with him, as he has the ability to win more races from his mark.
The penny really dropped with Secret Sonata, who showed much-improved form to get off the mark at the fifth attempt with a wide-margin success at Catterick under Callum Hutchinson. The well-bred daughter of Showcasing should have plenty more to offer, as does Peaky Blinder, who scored with plenty to spare at Redcar for Callum Hutchinson. The step up to 1m6f and return to turf were the catalyst for the improved performance and he could make up into a smart stayer next year.
Best Adventure held his form very well through a busy campaign and it was great to see him record a third win of 2025 with a battling success at Newcastle in the hands of Silvestre de Sousa. He has since been sold at Tattersalls, as has Terrapin, who made a winning handicap debut at Newcastle for P J McDonald, scooting clear of his field, but he was unable to match that form on his next start.
Gewan’s Dewhurst victory was one of ten juvenile winners for the yard in October, with some very smart performances amongst them.
Winged One had looked very inexperienced on debut at Leicester in late September, but was a different proposition on her second start, scoring in great style under P J McDonald and shaping like a smart middle-distance prospect for next year. She was the second leg of a two-year-old double on the evening at Newcastle, with P J also on board for Moonlight Warrior’s narrow success on what was also her second career outing. He is another that looks set to stay further in time.
Laazm recorded his second win from three starts with a neck success in a class 2 nursery at York, P J McDonald challenging late on the son of Mehmas, who looks another exciting prospect for next term. A Taste Of Glory got off the mark at the third attempt, quickening nicely to score at Brighton under Jason Watson. He was unable to figure in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud on his next start, but remains a smart type for next term.
Black Chiffon is a beautifully-bred daughter of Night Of Thunder and she got her career off to the perfect start in a valuable maiden at Salisbury under Oisin Murphy. She was well on top at the line and is another to look forward to next year.
Hard To Believe took a nice step forward on his debut when justifying odds-on favouritism at Bath in the hands of Oisin Murphy. That form has been received several boosts and his opening mark of 77 looks very workable.
Prizeland made it second time lucky with a comfortable success in a restricted novice at Kempton Park under P J McDonald and the half-sister to Hoo Ya Mal looks sure to improve over further next term, with similar comments applying to Eastern Veil. She was another to score at the second time of asking, Jason Watson giving her a strong ride to win by a short-head and she will have plenty more to offer at three.
Mad Unicorn is a well-bred daughter of No Nay Never and she did her paddock prospects no harm when off the mark in nursery company at Wolverhampton in the hands of Callum Hutchinson.