April Newsletter
The Hampshire-based trainer Bill Wightman, who sent out over 700 winners including two King George VI Chases, called his autobiography Months Of Misery, Moments of Bliss. It’s a phrase that will strike a chord with many trainers, owners and punters.
The first three months of 2021 were quiet for The Horse Watchers with relatively few runners and just one winner in the shape of Warrior Brave, but with turf racing beginning to step up a gear there should be a lot more activity from now on. And hopefully there will be one or two moments of bliss along the way.
We’ll begin this round-up with our two-year-old SCALDED. As is the case with most babies, there have been one or two teething problems in his development but also clear indications of promise. The odd little cough, some bruising and soreness in a foot, a brief spike in his temperature - all minor ailments as he learns his job. He’d been coming along nicely until another minor recent setback but hopefully won’t be long in getting to the track. Dave’s 2yo’s have started well and he’s hopeful this year’s batch will turn out to be the best he’s had so there remains plenty to look forward to for all we may not have him out as early as initially hoped
Easter Monday saw our new three-year-old recruit RHOSCOLYN make his reappearance in a warmish 7f handicap at Wolverhampton, and although he didn’t beat a rival there were plenty of positives to be taken from his performance. Nearly all of Dave’s horses have been needing their first run of the season and Rhoscolyn gave the impression he “blew up” after leading until the home turn. He seemed to have several of his rivals on the stretch at halfway but eventually paid for his exertions and Silvestre De Sousa sensibly looked after him in the closing stages.
What was encouraging was the zest Rhoscolyn showed until he started tiring and we expect him to come on for the outing, his first since wind surgery. Silvestre was upbeat about Rhoscolyn’s prospects after the race and reported that he seemed to be having no problems with his breathing, so the initial signs are that his operation has been a success.The performance also added weight to the theory that Rhoscolyn will prove best over 6f or an easy 7f. With that in mind he was sent to Yarmouth for a 6f handicap but was withdrawn having broken through the stalls. A quick stalls test was arranged and passed which allows him to take his chance at Lingfield tomorrow (Tues April 26) in a 7f handicap.
Incidentally, that Wolverhampton race could be one to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.
The winner ZWELELA is a progressive filly who has improved her Timeform rating with every outing this year and she won so smoothly that there’s a chance she can complete a hat-trick. Runner-up CHORITZO, highly tried on his last two starts as a two-year-old, looks an improved model this season and ran a cracker on his reappearance under the talented Mark Crehan. He shouldn’t be long in going one better. Third-placed DARK ZEAS is still a maiden but this well-bred son of Dark Angel could be placed to advantage in similar company by Phil Kirby.
Twenty-four hours later, at Pontefract, TUKHOOM began his career with The Horse Watchers, and there were some similarities with Rhoscolyn’s run the previous day. Tukhoom has been around the block a few times, with 57 runs under his belt, but he retains all his enthusiasm at the age of eight and we think he’ll win a race or two this season. He’s since been to Catterick where he failed to beat a rival and may take a short while to find his form but he continues to drop in the weights.
WARRIOR BRAVE remains a three-year-old of potential. His most recent run was in a 5f classified stakes at Nottingham and he was meeting several of his rivals there on worse terms than in a handicap.
As it happened he performed right up to his best (Timeform have him running to 91) despite not getting the rub of the green, bumped leaving the stalls which meant he ended up on a wing with little cover, tending to edge left when he was pushed along then hampered inside the final furlong. In spite of all that, he was still beaten under two lengths.
Three-year-old sprinters don’t lack for opportunity at this time of year and it’s not difficult to identify suitable targets for Warrior Brave. The Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap over 5f at Royal Ascot remains at the forefront of our thoughts but it’s not his only option over the next few months and he may run a couple of times more before June. Plenty went wrong for him at Nottingham and his next outing could easily unlock another chunk of improvement. He holds entries later this week at Goodwood and Newmarket and is likely to be take up one of those engagements.
There ought to be races in BLUE HERO too, but so far his supporters have endured more downs than ups. He doesn’t help himself by pulling hard in his races, and getting him down to the start proved a problem on his most recent outing at Newcastle. When he was badly hampered leaving the stalls that evening the game was up before he’d even covered a furlong.
Blue Hero showed he was capable of going close off his current mark when a narrowly-beaten fourth on his fourth start for us, and he’s falling in the weights with each run. To test the idea quirky courses suit quirky horses we’re sending Blue Hero to Brighton tomorrow (April 26) in the hope they go a good gallop in an apprentice riders race and he can make a late challenge under stable apprentice Theodore Lad.
RAASEL is having a break. He made a promising first appearance for us when going close in a novice at Chelmsford in January but hasn’t built on it in two runs since. At Lingfield next time he blew the start completely and was last throughout, while at Newcastle on his latest outing he didn’t find much after travelling well until halfway.
Mick felt that something muscular might be troubling him (the vets are happy that his old suspensory injury isn’t a factor) and that he just needs some rest, so he’ll be turned out for a month and we’ll start afresh with him from June. If that does the trick he’s well handicapped off a mark of 73.
We’re taking our time with the other two horses in our ownership at Mick’s, and hoping that the patient approach that has served us well in the past pays off again. SAAHEQ, for example, took the best part of a year between being bought and pleasing Mick enough to be ready to run, but when he did see the racecourse again he rattled off a quick double at Doncaster and Sandown.
LIBERATION POINT has the potential to be one of the best horses we’ve owned but he’s big and backward and just needs more time. He was in full training early in the year but Mick wasn’t 100% happy with how he was moving so he’s back on the easy list.
His only run last year for Richard Fahey, on heavy ground at Pontefract, was full of promise, and if he can put his niggly problems behind him he could well prove useful. Some cut in the ground could be important for him, and if we get a clear run he could thrive for an autumn campaign.
It was always the plan to bring MAHANAKHON POWER along steadily and he’s slowly moving through the gears at home. “Slowly” is an appropriate word where this horse is concerned - stamina rather than speed is his chief asset - but he’s pleasing Mick and we’re hopeful he’ll have a productive season in handicaps over 1m4f plus.
Mahanakhon Power has only been in full training since mid-February. He seems perfectly sound and has a good attitude. Like Liberation Point, it’s possible he’ll be best with some give in the ground so with a lack of rain around we decided to get his season started on the all-weather at Chelmsford last week. He blew up badly and will be much better for the run, and possibly another, but with a long season ahead we’ve still got lots to look forward to - patience is a virtue remember!
Getting back on the turf puts a spring in everyone’s step, but one last thought on the winter. Mick took the All-Weather Champion Trainer honours for a fourth consecutive season and a fifth time in all, with 59 victories, his highest ever total. A brilliant achievement for the whole team, especially considering the relative lack of big-money investment in the yard. Here’s hoping for another stack of winners on grass over the coming months.