Benton strikes at Yarmouth

Friday, 23 May 2014

 

Trevor Benton's grey Dutch Art filly got off the mark at her first attempt in handicap company this afternoon at nearby Yarmouth.

Trevor is locally based in Ely and has three horses in the yard alongside Strike A Light with Stroll On and Tell Me Another so it was pleasing that this was the first of hopefully many winners Rae will train for Trevor.

Bought at the 2012 yearling sales for 35,000gns Rae has always had faith in this Cheveley Park bred filly but it is fair to say it has taken time for the penny to drop with her and she ran well at Warwick on her seasonal reappearance before travelling well throughout today under Chris Catlin and asserting over two furlongs out to win by a slightly comfortable neck.  Hopefully she will improve again for this win.

Congratulations to Trevor and Betty who own her, also to Nasir (pictured) who looks after her and rides her out the majority of the time.

Vive La France!

Friday, 09 May 2014

 

Cape Factor and Mirza off on a European holiday:

 

Cape Factor (right), Derek Willis' three year-old Oratorio filly who covered herself in glory last year will make her long-awaited seasonal debut in the Poule D'Essai Des Pouliches (The French 1000 Guineas) at Longchamp on Sunday.

Her return this season has been delayed due to ever drying ground, although Longchamp racecourse is currently Good to Soft with rain forecast in the lead-up to the race.

She will be partnered for the first time by William Buick after Chris Catlin encountered some 'technical' problems en-route to France.  William is a more than accomplished substitute and he will try to carry on where he left off on our other runner Mirza.  William rode him to great effect winning (dead-heating) the Group 3 Prix Du Petit Couvert at Longchamp (right) last year before encountering trouble in the Prix De L'Abbaye under a different rider.

Both Cape Factor and Mirza love soft ground so we are hopeful of good runs from both, especially as they are set to encounter their ideal conditions.

The best of luck to Derek Willis, owner of Cape Factor (famous for his success with Serious Attitude) and Chris and Lesley Mills, owner of Mirza. Also best of luck to Andrew Bubb, our travelling head-lad and Hollie Smith who will leave Newmarket in the early hours of tomorrow morning to ensure a safe and speedy trip to Paris.

The race times are as follows (UK time) and should be shown in any local bookies as well as At The Races or Racing UK (Check the Racing Post on Sunday for confirmation):

2:08pm Cape Factor - Poule D'Essai Des Pouliches

 

3:55pm Mirza - Prix Des Saint-Georges

 

 

Calm Attitude shows improved success

Friday, 02 May 2014

 

Calm Attitude, a four year old Dutch Art filly continued 2014 exactly where 2013 left off when gaining success in the 2.15, Class 5 Fillies Handicap over a mile and a quarter at Chepstow this afternoon.

Successful in her last trip to Wales at Ffos Las, Calm Attitude made it four victories from her last four runs when tracking the leaders before making her challenge two and a half out and asserting in the last furlong to win decisively by just under four lengths.

Ridden in all of her victories by Chris Catlin he again done the steering today and rightfully deserves praise for his positive ride.  Congratulations to Derek Willis who made the long trip down there (and is now in for a quiet weekend after news Cape Factor will aim for the French Guineas next weekend) and Barry Stewart who own her jointly with Rae. Well done also to Lenka who rides and looks after her.

We're now in for a quiet weekend with our earliest runners likely to be Monday. We'll hopefully have an update on Cape Factors likelihood of a France visit on Thursday morning. Enjoy the bank holiday weekend!

Cape Factor off to France

Friday, 02 May 2014

 

Regular viewers of this website will see Derek Willis' star filly from last season Cape Factor (pictured winning the Listed Bosra Sham Stakes at Newmarket last season) has had several entries but has yet to feature in any races in 2014. The sole intention this season is to run her in the Guineas.  Unfortunately her non-participation in any race thus far has been more so down to the ground, while it is not essential that she gets cut in the ground we do believe she is seen to her best on a softer surface.  With that in mind it is with regret that she will miss the English 1,000 Guineas due to the racing surface being good to firm, firm in places. She is entered in the French Guineas at Longchamp on Sunday 11th May and with the ground officially 'very soft' and rain forecast in the days leading up to the meeting it is more than likely she will get her ground.  

Chris Mills' star sprinter from last season, Mirza (pictured dead-heating in the Group Three Prix Du Petit Couvert at Longchamp last season) is also entered on the card and with soft ground also his speciality expect him to feature as well.

 

Regular updates via the entries section of this website will confirm if and when any confirmation has been made.

First Experience provides Cheltenham distraction

Monday, 17 March 2014

 

In a week when all eyes were focused firmly on Cheltenham's Prestbury Park, First Experience owned jointly by Guy Carstairs and the 'Fit or Fat Racing Partnership' gained her third success when gamely winning the seven furlong handicap at Lingfield on Friday afternoon.

Held up and settling well off the pace she rallied turning into the home straight before getting the better of the evens favourite Chantrea, trained by Rae's sister Lady Cecil.

Congratulations to all concerned including Nick Pogmore and Steve Piper whose successes with Kickingthelilly and Miss Buckshot have carried on with this filly.  Well done also to Hollie who looks after her and rides her a fair bit.

As preparations for the turf season begin to gain pace it is nice to know the yard remains in good form, First Experience being our fifth winner from only fourteen runners.

An added bonus on the night was also Chris and Lesley Mills' Mink Coat passing her stalls test. After her unfortunate upset first time out causing her to break out of the stalls it is a requirement that they then undergo a stalls test before being allowed to race again.  Expect to see her on a racecourse in the near future.