2014 Flat Edition 18 - spoon very much up for grabs

Headlines

Sole Has the Power At York

Absolutely So Wins City of York.

Light Leads The way in Ireland

Report

We start at York last Friday where in the 7f listed stakes, Absolutely So ( Martin) went to post, tracked leaders, headway 3 out, chased leader 2 out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, kept on well towards finish, winning by 1 ½ l. He gets 35.8 points.

In the 5f Group 1 Nunthorpe stakes Sole Power ( Cliff, Cod), went to post, held up in rear, headway and switched over 1 out, not clear run and switched left inside final furlong, squeezed through and quickend well close home to lead last 40 yards, winning by ½ l. He gets 53.5 points. 

On Sunday at the Curragh in the 1m 6f group 3 Leading Light ( Bob, Cliff, Cod, Lee, Neil, Tony), took his chance, held up in 3^rd, pushed along to challenge over 2 out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong ran on well and gradually asserted, winning comfortably by 1 ¾ l . He gets 16.4 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                August               Total

Lee                112.8             1126.3

Tony             131.8              816.6

Cod               123.1               763.7    

Bob                69.6               6 50.6

Steve               135               641.8

Neil                81.6               628.7

Peej              75.6                 511.3

Cliff               105.9              481.2

Martin            102.2             393.3

News

John Gosden has raised the possibility of Kingman stepping up in trip next season if the brilliant colt stays in training. Since his narrow reverse in the 2000 Guineas, the three-year-old has confirmed himself the star turn in the mile division with thrilling victories in the Irish Guineas, St James's Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes and Prix Jacques le Marois.

Given he carries the same colours of owner Khalid Abdullah, Kingman is inevitably compared to the unbeaten Frankel, who also dominated at a mile during his Classic year before proving equally dominant over a mile and a quarter as a four-year-old. "Frankel obviously went mile, mile, mile and then he stepped up to a mile and a quarter at York (Juddmonte International) and again in the Champion (Stakes) at Ascot," said Gosden.

"If he (Kingman) stayed in training next year you have the options to do similar things, but at this stage, as a three-year-old, a mile is his trip.

"You could easily bring him back (in trip) if you wanted to and as he relaxes so well, you could probably step him up in trip. If he did stay in training next year, those become options.

"I don't think any decisions will be made until the end of October. We'll sit down and discuss the matter thoroughly and see what's best and the final decision will very much rest with the owner.

2014 Flat Edition 17 - on we go!

Headlines

Bianca wins At Gowran

Australia Day At York

Tapestry Weaves To Oaks Victory

Report

We start at Gowran Park, where in the 1m 1f listed stakes, Carla Bianca (Lee), took her chance, raced mid division, 6^th half way, headway from 2 out, pushed along to lead 1 out, kept on strongly under pressure inside last to maintain advantage, winning by 1 ¾ l she gets 43.2 points.

At York on Wednesday  in the 1m 2f Group 1 International Stakes, Australia ( Bob, Cod, Lee, Neil, Steve, Tony), The Grey Gatsby (Neil, Peej), went to post.

Australia, Held up in touch in last pair, headway over 2f out, shaken up to lead well over 1f out, ran on well, clear inside final furlong, winning readily  by 2l. He gets

53.2 points.

The Grey Gatsby, Held up in touch in last pair, closed 3f out, not much behind leaders and waited with over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, chased winner final furlong, stayed on, no impression, 2^nd beaten 2l, he gets 12 points.

Today in the 1m 4f group 1 Yorkshire Oaks, Tapestry, (Cliff, Peej, Steve, Tony), took her chance, Held up in rear, niggled along to close over 3f out, went 2nd over 1f out, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, led final 100 yards, stayed on well , winning by ½ l. She gets 36 points.

 

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                August               Total

Lee                96.4             1100.9

Tony             115.4              800.2

Cod               53.2               693.8    

Steve               135               641.8

Bob                53.2               634.2

Neil                65.2               612.3

Peej              75.6                 511.3

Cliff               36                   411.3

Martin            66.4                357.5

News

Trainer Eddie Lynam has revealed his dual Group One-winning sprinter Slade Power is set to miss the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock next month. However, after returning from the July Coursewith ringworm, he now looks likely to head straight for Australia for the VRC Sprint at Melbourne in November, a race which is scheduled to be the last of his career before he is retired to stud.

John Warren is hopeful the Queen's Gold Cup heroine Estimate can get her season back on track in the Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Lonsdale Cup at York. He said: "Hopefully she can get back on track. Sir Michael is certainly very happy with her and hopefully we can leave Goodwood behind us.

"We're very positive she will give a good account of herself and hopefully give her true running. The track should certainly suit her much better than Goodwood and the faster the ground the better for her

2014 Flat Edition 16 - closer at the bottom than top

Headlines

Illusive escapes Rivals

Retirement Plan works at Ascot

Love is the winning TokenAt Haydock

Peej has Sandown winner !

Report

We start  at Leopardstown last Thursday evening where Illusive ( Tony), went to post in the 1m 1f maiden stakes, soon disputed lead, led after 1f, extended advantage in to straight, in command entering final furlong, kept on well, winning comfortably by ¾ l. He gets 26.2 points.

At Sandown Croquembouche ( Peej), took his chance in the 1m 2f handicap, led, driven well over 2f out, narrowly headed 1 out, rallied well to lead inside last, ran on gamely to win by ½ l. He gets 27.6 points.

On Saturday at Ascot in the 2m handicap Retirement Plan(Martin), took his chance, led 2f, tracked leaders 4^th 4 out, ridden to chase clear leader over 2 out, gradually closed up, led inside last, stayed on to win by 1 ¼ l. He gets 32.6 points.

At Haydock in the 1m listed stakes Token Of Love ( Martin), went to post, chased leaders led 2 out, edged left 1 out, soon clear and in command final furlong, winning by 2 ¼ l. She gets 33.8 points.

 

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                August               Total

Lee                                     1004.5

Tony             26.2               711

Cod                                     640.6    

Bob                                       581

Steve            45.8                 552.6

Neil                                      552.1

Peej              27.6                 463.3

Cliff                                      375.3

Martin            66.4                357.5

News

Dual Derby hero Australia is one of 11 remaining possibles in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York on Wednesday. Chief threat to Australia could come from Sir Michael Stoute's Telescope Coral-Eclipse winner Mukhadram is on course for William Haggas, while Derby fourth Arod, a facile winner of a three-horse conditions race last time out, is also likely to run.

Jim Bolger's Trading Leather and Kevin Ryan's Dante and French Derby winner The Grey Gatsby offer further strength in depth

.. John Gosden's Western Hymn returns to France for the Prix Guillaume D'Ornano on Friday after an ultra-impressive display on his last venture

Dermot Weld has expressed his delight at the progress of Free Eagle as the twice-raced colt prepares for a return to the track later this season.

2014 Flat Edition 15 - limited on the winner front

Headlines

J is the Wonder of Goodwood

Report

Well, limited on the winner front this week.

J Wonder (Steve), took her chance in the 7f Group  3 at Goodwood on Friday, steadied start, dropped in behind, , took keen hold, switched left and effort over 1 out, strong run to chase leader inside last, ran on to lead close home, winning by a neck. She gets 45.8 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                        July   August     Total

Lee                358.9                  1004.5

Tony             325                       684.8

Cod               139.4                   640.6    

Bob              229.7                    581

Steve            192.2     45.8       552.6

Neil               205.2                  552.1

Peej                 88                    435.7

Cliff              77.3                    375.3

Martin            51.3                301.1

Lee, unsurprisingly, was trainer of the month in July, congratulations

News

Estimate will bid to get her season back on track in the Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Lonsdale Cup at York on August 22.

2014 Flat Edition 14 - welcome relief for the Ed

Headlines

Man is King of The Downs

Munasser in Newmarket stroll

Pallasator scores at Ascot

Report

We start at Newmarket last Saturday, where in the 1m handicap Munaaser (Cliff), went to post, held up, switched right over 2 out, headway to lead on bit over 1 out, came clear inside last, winning in a canter by 3l. He gets 26 points.

On  Sunday at Ascot Pallasator (Neil), took his chance in the 1m 4f handicap, held up in 5^th, urged along 3 out, progress 2 out, chased leader inside last, driven ahead 150 yards out, stayed on strongly o win by 2l. He gets 28 points.

On Wednesdat at Goodwood in the 1m Group 1 Sussex Stakes Kingman (All), went to post. Steadied start, close up in 4th, pushed along and looked in trouble when pace quickened over 1f out, ran on strongly to lead towards finish, winning impressively by 1l. He gets 51.3 points.

Last Saturday at Ascot in the 1m 4f Group 1 King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth stakes, Telescope ( Bob, Steve), took his chance, tracked leading pair, went 2^nd opver 2 out, closed to challenge and up sides over 1 out, just led inside last, swamped by winner soon after, finishing 2^nd, beaten 3l, he gets 12 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                        July      Total

Lee                358.9        1004.5

Tony             325          684.8

Cod               139.4       640.6    

Bob              229.7        581

Neil               205.2       552.1

Steve            192.2       506.8

Peej                 88       435.7

Cliff              77.3        375.3

Martin            51.3       301.1

News

The 2012 St Leger winner Encke finally makes his return to action in the Coutts Glorious Stakesat Goodwood on Friday.

The five-year-old was the most high profile of the 22 Godolphin horses banned from racinglast year as part of the Mahmood Al Zarooni drugs scandal.