Dragon’s National bid waiting on the weather
We have until noon on Monday to supplement him for the National Stakes so we would certainly like to see some rain before that deadline if we are to take that chance. But we’ll just have to see what happens.
Bob Le Beau has been entered for the Melbourne Cup now and we’ll just see what weight he gets and what the cut-off will be before we make a decision on that too. It’s a target I mentioned here a couple of months ago and in the meantime, he’ll go for the 1m 4f listed race at Listowel.
Much of the preparations right now at Commonstown are being made with Listowel in mind and hopefully we’ll be able to continue the form that gave us 12 winners during August. Ten of those came in an unbelievable period from the 17th to the 28th and, while it’s too much to ask for that sort of purple patch to continue, hopefully we can keep sending out a few winners.
Bible Belt really is a brilliant filly. While I did think she could win the Group 3 Dance Design Stakes at the Curragh last Sunday after winning a listed contest just a couple of weeks earlier, I can’t believe how well she actually did it.
She got herself into trouble and she was off the bridle to begin with because it was so quick but she picked up so well. All Fran had to do was give her two slaps and it was over. We have to step up with her now and the plan is to maybe go to the Group 2 Blandford Stakes with her. I also her have her in the Prix l’Opera on Arc weekend.
We had our second double of the Killarney festival – and brought our weekly tally in the Kingdom to five – when Hurricane Ridge and The Bull Hayes did the business.
I was thrilled that Hurricane Ridge won first time out. He really did it well and is a smart horse. Fran said that he was a bit green but once the penny dropped, he was good. So that was very pleasing and we’ll probably go for a nursery in Listowel next.
It was great to see the right Bull turning up on the day. When things go right for him he’s a very good horse. He looked the winner a long way, jumping well and battling well. He will go to Listowel as well, either for the 2m or 2½m handicap hurdle.
During the week, Clouded Thoughts was second again while I was very pleased that Gush put that Dundalk run behind her with probably her best effort to date. We were delighted with Princess Sinead, who was two short heads off third in the Moyglare. That’s a Group 1 so you’d have to be very happy and she’ll drop back to Group 3 company next.
Neither Fairy Wing nor Steps To Freedom really handled Galway. Fairy Wing was leading on the wrong leg the whole way but he’s running consistently now. Steps To Freedom was beaten just 2½ lengths in a very good listed race so you’d be hoping he has a decent future over hurdles. I actually schooled him this week and he jumped very well so he’s another that’s Listowel-bound, for a maiden hurdle.
We have a quiet enough weekend with two runners at Leopardstown today and two at Dundalk tomorrow.
Silver Sycamore takes her chance in the fillies’ maiden at Leopardstown. I’m happy with her, she has a good draw and will be there or thereabouts. I’m hoping for a good strong pace in the race. I’m happy with Back Burner too, who runs in the handicap, but he hasn’t a great draw. Hopefully that won’t matter as much as it did in Dundalk.
The two in Dundalk are drawn well. I’d be very hopeful for Backbench Blues in the two-year-old maiden. We’re hoping that he has come on for his last run and I’m certainly happy with him. Canaille is in the winners’ race and we just want to see how he’ll take to the all-weather.
Just a quick mention of the European Eventing Championships last week. I was in Germany helping out the team a little bit. They did very well and were one of the only teams to get all their combinations around.
Unfortunately we just missed qualifying for the Olympics by six points which was desperately close but hopefully we’ll make it on rider rankings.
I loved being there and having an involvement. It was great fun and I managed to be back on Saturday night so I could be in the Curragh to see Bible Belt win. And that was great fun too.
