Thoughts on todays runners

A busy day for the team today (25th July). La Donacella heads to Ascot for the 2.10 to make her racecourse debut. Jimmy Fortune takes the ride in the seven furlong fillies maiden. La Donacella is a rangy filly who will be an even better horse next year. She has been going nicely in her homework and seems to relish being a racehorse. She is ready for the next step in her education. We’ve chosen to send her to Ascot as she wouldn’t want the ground too fast and the clerk of the course’s stated aim all weak has been to produce good to firm, good in places, which is probably the best one can hope for in this glorious summer weather. She will learn plenty from the experience and it looks a hot contest but should put in a nice performance if she takes everything in her stride.

The race looks likely to go to one of the more experienced fillies who have already shown very decent form unless one of the newcomers is particularly talented. Malabar who was fourth in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot has the best form in the book and Crystal Malt has run well in all three starts in some good maidens.

Thewaythewindblows is the second runner of the day in 7.00 at York. Thomas Brown will ride in the seven furlong maiden. Thewaythewindblows was very green in his first run and should be somewhat more professional today, although he still hasn’t quite got the hang of things totally. He takes a lot of work to get fit and still looks as if there is improvement to come on that front. He should put in a better performance than he did first time out. He’ll have to show a serious amount of improvement to match Il Paparazzi’s performance when winning this race for us last year.

There are some interesting newcomers in the race, notably Celestial Path and Swift Approval however Kifaaya and Intiwin set a good standard in what looks a strong contest.

La Donacella cantering