Going - Soft - changed to Heavy after R2. Overcast
Jackpot Pool - 4,826.56 Dividend - 4,543.30 Winning Units - .53. Placepot Pool - 32,273.17 Dividend - 87.40 Winning Units - 364.84. Days Aggregate - 153,765.35 (7 races). Last Year 175,619.17 (8 races).
River Tiber a name to note
Tawaazon back in the winner's enclosure again
He goes well, he's just a good horse. He got bogged down in the Curragh last week (when sixth) and ran into a bit of traffic and then that was it. To be honest, if it was that ground at declarations I wouldn't have bothered declaring him. Jamie just let him roll on and didn't break his stride. I have to give Kevin O'Ryan credit, there wasn't many apprentices left by the time that we decided that we were going to declare him. He said if I gave Jamie the ride on Tawaazon, he would go here. He was supposed to go to Limerick.
Ocean Quest easily beats the colts
She was going to the Cheveley Park last year and she pulled a muscle the week before, so we put her away for the rest of the season. We knew she was good last year - she won the first two-year-old race of the season and we bided our time with her and let her strengthen up. Her owners have been rewarded with waiting with her, I thought she looked a picture in the paddock beforehand. She'll go to the Commonwealth Cup, that's what mum said on the phone! Obviously, mum will have a chat with the owners and everything, but it looks like the likely aim at the moment. The form of her Ballyhane run (in third at Naas) is top-notch.
Village Voice brings up Listed-race double for Harrington
She has been very brave down the inside. I'm just watching the head on and she has been very brave to go through the gap. She has done it really really nicely. I'd imagine we will go Ribblesdale now, we were just touched off in it last year with Magical Lagoon. Our other horse, Foniska has run a cracker, but she boiled over a little bit beforehand and will come on a tonne from it. She wants a bit better ground. Shane is trying to take it well! He knew it was going to be a tough call but his filly has lost little in defeat. She just got tired close home. It was a tough choice for him - this filly, Village Voice, does absolutely nothing at home. It has been a good day and a great tonic for mum. I think it is the quote of the year - I rang her coming in here and she said 'why are you ringing me? They are about to go into the stalls!' I told her the race had finished and she obviously pressed pause and didn't fast forward it again! I told her Village Voice won and Foniska was third and she said 'oh, brilliant!'.
O'Brien and Moore land brace through Emily Dickinson
She loves a trip and she relaxes, that's the key. She stays well and she has class as well. She's an exciting filly, she has a big engine. The plan was to come here and then go to Leopardstown for the Saval Beg. Then, hopefully, she will go from there to the Gold Cup. She is a filly that we always thought when she went beyond a mile and a half, we would see the best of her.
Rich Belief makes winning start for Crawley
Super!. A small bit of ability and stays at it. He was a bit unlucky in the north when Billy Lee rode him. He said anything that could have gone wrong did go wrong and he still got up to be third (at Down Royal last September). He has won five races for us, we can't believe it. We will probably go jumping hurdles next, he jumps nicely.
Nurburgring finds a change of gear
Settled well, quickened up very well. He did (come up the hill strongly). Nice run at two, but we thought on that ground he might get a bit tired. Some of mine have just taken a run this year. I thought he might be no different, but I was impressed with how he went to the line. Looks a smart horse. Huge horse and absolutely some scope. He will be a lovely middle distance/stayer, hopefully.