RACING WEEK 27
Thus update kindly written by one of my owners – Paul Eggett.
The week’s runners were seen at three meetings as the stable looked for results to keep the statistics ahead of last year’s figures. July 2018 was the busiest month of the year and offered up two winners and four places in all, so the pressure is on during the corresponding month this year.
On Thursday, Yarmouth saw both Agent of Fortune (AoF) and Penarth Pier line up in a class 6 handicap over seven furlongs. AoF has yet to find the form of last year and was a tad disappointing finishing down the field after looking to be in a good position at half way.
Penarth Pier, making her stable debut, ran a pleasing race. Although being outpaced and losing her position when the pace picked up two furlong out, she did stay on well and was picking up places in the closing stages.
The next race saw Hidden Dream (Cassie) run in a class 6 handicap over one mile and two furlongs. Following on from her previous run where the visor simply did not work, causing some serious trouble for both horse and jockey, Cassie was back in cheek pieces.
The race took a similar pattern to the last run where Elsie Violet looked to dominate from the front, however Cassie stuck to her task and when Kieron O’Neil asked for her effort, she took things up from a furlong out. It did look like she would hold on but top weight, Affluence, went with her and got in front 50 yards from the line. A good effort from Hidden Dream and a fine 2nd place finish.
On Friday, the AW of Chelmsford saw three more runners. Shyarch (Archie) and Patienceisavirtue (Libby) lined up in a class 6 handicap over 7 furlongs.
After unseating the jockey before the start Archie chased the leaders but never really got close enough to strike a blow and finished in 5th. Libby ran in midfield for most of the race but weakened two furlongs out and fell back towards the finish.
Next we saw Ed Cuvee make his racecourse bow in a class 5 maiden stakes over seven furlongs. Ed was obviously a newcomer here as he was slowly away and never really got into the race so the jockey, rightly eased him down.
Saturday saw the final race of the week, as Queen of Burgundy (QoB) showed up for a class 5 handicap over six furlongs. With Joey Haynes back in the plate the winning combination from Leicester in May went off joint favourite for the race.
QoB raced handily throughout and took things up just over 1 furlong out, pulling clear of the field, however she was unable to shake off the Fahey runner, Stewardship, and was headed inside the final furlong to finish a very good 2nd.
Finishing 12 lengths clear of 3rd, QoB had obviously bumped into a good one from the northern yard, but she has again stamped her own quality back into the form book and her next win is surely due very soon.