Richard Fahey has been in flying form and he reflects on his recent wins, highlights some Royal Ascot targets and goes through his Saturday team.
Native all set for Jersey test
The horses are running really well and while we didn’t have many at Epsom I was delighted with the run of Native American who was beaten a short head by Evade in the Listed Surrey Stakes.
If he didn’t run well there we were in trouble as I like him a lot, but we know where we are going with him now. The step back in trip and letting him use his stride was the key and with that in mind we’ll be sticking to seven furlongs in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot next.
The stiff seven will suit him better than the Epsom seven and I’d hope that could help us reverse form with Evade. He’d be a bit more pacey than us and this will be more of a test of stamina, but we’ll see. I’m just looking forward to seeing him run again.
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Catalyse slots into Royal Ascot team
Catalyse won very nicely on debut at Hamilton last weekend and I think he’s quite a smart horse. Unlike some of the breeze-up horses we did have to train him a bit, so he’d had a few gallops and his last piece of work was his best piece.
We were pleased he won as well as he did as I do think he’ll improve again. We’re quite excited about him. He’s Royal Ascot-bound, we’ll just have to sit down with Wathnan Racing and see which way they want to go as they have a big team of good two-year-olds. I wouldn’t be bothered five or six furlongs, personally.
Delighted with Wetherby four-timer
It was terrific to get a Wetherby four-timer up and what pleased me was we had a trio of three-year-olds win in Eminent Jewel, Glistening Nights and Batal Dandy, as the two-year-olds were carrying the can for a bit. We did have a juvenile winner on the card, Eartha, but I don’t think Ascot would suit her, we’ll just see how she progresses.
Loom headlines Ripon treble
On Wednesday we had a treble at Ripon headlined by Loom who over-raced at York, he hit the gates and held his breath for three furlongs before he emptied. I was expecting him to run a big race at York but it just didn’t happen, it was his first day at school, but for a laid-back character it was a surprise to see him hit the gates and go.
So I was happy with his win at Ripon, he was more relaxed back at five furlongs and he obviously learnt a lot. I think he’s quite a nice colt. He did it well and finished well, so on the back of that he probably should be going to Royal Ascot. We won the same Ripon race with The Platinum Queen but they are very different types. She was pacey and took some managing at home, but this fellow is a gentleman.
Peter Easterby once said to me ‘if you want to get a good horse beat, send them to Ripon’ and for much of the race I thought that’s what we’d done with Golden Strike. I still can’t believe he won, but he’s a nice horse, we do like him, he’s just still a bit immature mentally and physically. It might sound silly but he’s a horse for next year, he is still green and entitled to improve.
Saturday Runners
RAMAZAN – 3.35 Haydock
Ramazan runs in the Group 3 Betfred John Of Gaunt Stakes and he’s rated 107, so that’s what he’s got to do take these lads on. On ratings he’s up against it, but he does like Haydock and I think the visor helps him. He went up another couple of pounds for running well in it at Ascot and I felt like we had our pockets picked. Any rain would help him, he goes on any ground but he’s better with a bit of cut underfoot. We’re very happy with him.
SANDS OF DUBAI – 2.05 Beverley
She was very disappointing first run, I don’t know why as she had worked alright. Whether she is up to this is another thing, we’ll just have to see. I’d have my doubts and stall 13 hasn’t helped. Peter Swann has had a runner in this for the last 20 years, he wanted her in there and I couldn’t see any reason not to run her. She’ll need to step up to get involved.
MOVING FORCE – 2.40 Beverley
I thought he ran well when winning at Beverley and I thought he’d come on for that run. He does have to give weight all round but he’s quite a quick horse, he’s got plenty of boot, and it’s a race we like to have a runner in. We’re very happy with him, he’ll have to step up on his first win but he could, so hopefully he can give the weight away and run well.
NO NAY NICKI – 3.15 Beverley
She’s been a very disappointing filly, I don’t know why, she’s just completely lost her way and lost her confidence. If she bounces back she has a huge chance, but the way she’s running she really needs to turn a corner.
SOLAR BENTLEY – 5.40 Catterick
He has to bounce back from a disappointing run at Beverley last time but he was in good form before that, so I’m hoping he can return to the form he showed at Wolverhampton and Doncaster. I don’t think it was the trip that beat him last time, he was beaten too far out for that to be the case, so we’ll go again at 1m4f and hope for a better run.
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