Latest News

07
SEP

LILLY IN TOP TRIM FOR MATRON

SWEET LILLY heads to Ireland for the Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown (2.40) on the back of a confidence-boosting victory in a Listed event at Sandown and Kieren Fallon is booked for the filly.

Mick says: "I know it's quite soon after Sandown but the filly came out of it so well we thought it was worth a shot. It's a Group 1 and i've always felt she has the ability to compete well with the Group1 fillies.

"Obviously i'm delighted to see Kieren on her back. He doesn't ride that often for us but it's always interesting when he does."

Posted By: Wilsley News
07
SEP

HAYDOCK WATERING POLICY UNFAIR - CHANNON

MICK was somewhat displeased to receive a report from our travelling grooms at Haydock that the ground was on the slow side for the first day of the Betfred Sprint meeting.

The official going of good, good to firm in places was wide of the mark owing to the course's generous watering policy.

Haydock Clerk of the Course Kirkland Tellwright received a call from the boss who put forward his point that changing the going was unfair on the horses running today.

He said: "The ground was supposed to be good, good to firm but everyone up there insists it's on the slow side and more like good to soft.

"Tadgh O'Shea, Ted Durcan and Neil Callan agree and I can tell you i'm not at all happy.

"If' i'd known it would be on the easy side of good Silver Touch would be running in the Betfred while I wouldn't mind betting Peter Chapple-Hyam would have considered running Dutch Art."

Fair play to the boss whose comments echo the thoughts of most professionals at Haydock today. The bottom line is that the rules of racing state Clerks should not water in order to alter the going. 

Posted By: Wilsley News
06
SEP

UPDATED - STAFF SPOTLIGHTS, LATEST FEATURES AND EXTRAS

Whilst the site undergoes cosmetic surgery behind the scenes, we have uploaded Staff Spotlights, Latest Features and "Extras".

The latest Staff Spotlights see the multi-talented Russell introduce Alfredtheordinary, Dangerous Brian gives the Boss some stick back, whilst Neil Morrice is unmasked as the man behind the Latest News page.

The Features page sees stable lad Barry Tallant demonstrate how to tack up (it took him ages to learn!), Hugh Bowman reflects on his time at the yard and there's the sight of Mick fretting over the state of his front lawn as July's floods almost swamped Hodcott House.

"Extras" is a new page containing videos that are less racing relevant, but handy if you want to see the Boss in the days when he had hair. 

 

Posted By: Wilsley News
05
SEP

VIDEO UPLOADS AND WEBSITE IMPROVEMENTS

Whilst Neil Morrice is Sunning himself in York, the real workers among us are stuck in a basement in Isleworth making much needed improvements to the site's content and appearance.

As you may have noticed, our Gallops Videos have been a little backwards in coming forwards of late due to software issues that are too boring to explain at this present moment.

However, all of the gallops are now up to date with several feature videos also being uploaded.

In addition it might not have escaped your attention that the site is in much need of cosmetic surgery to make for a more eyecatching product and a more user friendly system.

That's why the Boss has banished us to Middlesex and why we are hoping to provide a brighter, shinier product for you all in the next few days.

 

Posted By: Wilsley News
05
SEP

HALI GIVES IMPRESSION THERE'S BETTER TO COME

HALICARNASSUS put up a fine performance for a three-year-old when getting to within two and a half lengths of hot favourite Echo Of Light in the Group 3 TurfTV Strensall Stakes at York today.

The youngest member of the seven-strong field, the Box 41-owned colt was one of the first off the bridle as Echo Of Light stole a march but he was staying-on best of all at the finish under Tadgh O'Shea.

"It was a cracking run and he looks to be improving all the time," said Mick. "If the race had been over a mile and a quarter it would have been even more interesting."

Give credit where it's due and David Young earned every penny of his prize for 'best turned out'. Not for the first time this season Halicarnassus looked magnificent and the boss can look forward to further reward should he decide to run him at the Dubai Carnival next year.

Posted By: Wilsley News
05
SEP

MATT EXCELS ON ZAHOUR

OUR second apprentice Matt Davies drew the plaudits of the boss after making all on ZAHOUR AL YASMEEN in the apprentice race at York today. The combination came home and length and threequarters clear of Valley Of The Moon.

"The filly needed a confidence boost but today is all about Matt," said Mick. "He's done everything right and ridden a winner in the colours of our main owner Jaber Abdullah which is an added boost for him. He's riding winners and long may that continue."

Zahour Al Yasmeen survived a market drift to prevail at 7-1 while at Lingfield Darryll Holland maintained his run of form for the yard by driving home 5-1 chance MEERISS in the novice stakes.

Posted By: Wilsley News
04
SEP

TOUCH TO BY-PASS HAYDOCK

SILVER TOUCH is to miss Saturday's Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock owing to unsuitable ground.

The filly worked with MANGO MUSIC this morning but Mick feels a trip up north would be a waste of time.

He said: "The ground will be too firm for Silver Touch and we'll save her for another day."

Our hopes now rest on the giant shoulders of MUTWAAJID who has bloomed since his run in the Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

The boss commented: "I'm delighted with Mutawaajid who looks so much better in his coat now he's had some time to acclimatise. He goes there with a good each-way chance and Darryll Holland is booked."

Posted By: Wilsley News
04
SEP

LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE AS HATTA IMPRESSES

WE made what is almost certainly a last trip to the summer ground this morning where HATTA FORT showed himself to be in exemplary form.

Sam Hitchcott teamed-up with the Superlative Stakes winner who is really thriving ahead of the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp.

Led by OBE GOLD, and accompanied by BARRALAND and GREEN WADI, Hatta Fort looked the real deal when cutting loose to get the verdict and should not be underestimated wherever he runs.

Green Wadi is definitely one for the notebook but on this occasion his work lacked its recent sparkle.

In the final work at first lot ATLANTIC SPORT showed his prowess when readily powering clear of HOUSE.

Posted By: Wilsley News
03
SEP

ARC THE RACE FOR YOUMZAIN DESPITE BADEN DEFEAT

YOUMZAIN could still tackle next month's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe despite finishing 
 fourth to Quijano in the Grosser Preis Von Baden on Sunday.
Richard Hughes blamed a slow gallop for the defeat of Youmzain who was pushed wide 
into the straight and finished strongly less than four lengths behind the winner.
Youmzain fared best of the overseas contingent in a race dominated by German-trained
horses, with Adlerflug a neck second and Egerton third.
Mick, who was at the meeting, said: "It was a messy old race. We got beat but 
it's not the end of the world. Hughesy said they let the pacemaker go and it
developed into two races with Youmzain being pushed wider and wider. He wishes he'd
taken a chance and gone up the inner but never mind, there is still the Arc to
consider."
Posted By: Wilsley News
01
SEP

LILLY THE STAR OF OUR VALLEY AT SANDOWN

SWEET LILLY showed her class and displayed great tenacity to preserve a lead she secured at the quarter mile pole in the Atalanta Stakes at Sandown today.

The 6-1 chance gained a deserved first success of the season as she came home by threequarters of a length under Tadgh O'Shea to set up a trip to France on Arc day.

Mick said: "Her form was the best in the race by a long way and she's done the rest. She was in front two furlongs down which we didn't want to be but it's how you finish that counts and she kept on strongly.

"I fancied her but when they backed Michael Stoute's filly (Heaven Sent) I though I might have got it wrong."

Longchamp's Prix de l'Opera could be the next port of call and Mick added: "In two visits to France she's been thwarted by testing ground, especially at Deauville last time, but I see no reason why she won't get a mile and a quarter and that's why I like the look of the Opera. There are more opportunities for older fillies these days and I hope Jaber keeps her in training next year." 

Posted By: Wilsley News