Latest News

01
SEP

SHEIKH CHANNON IS CHANNEL 4s TOP TIPSTER

CONGRATULATIONS to the boss for telling everyone on Channel 4's Morning Line that he felt SWEET LILLY would win the Atalanta Stakes.

Mick had a long wait from the end of the 8am show at Sandown to our filly's race at 2.05. Asked how he spent the time in between he confessed: "I went out and backed her."

Posted By: Wilsley News
31
AUG

LILLY PRIMED FOR ATALANTA

SWEET LILLY drops in grade to contest the Atalanta Stakes (2.05) at Sandown 
tomorrow.
The filly has rubbed shoulders with the top three-year-olds of her sex this year, posting
her best effort when fourth to Peeping Fawn in the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Testing conditions in France spoiled her chance on her latest start. The boss 
explained: "The ground was bottomless and you can run your pen through the form. I'm
very happy with her and she goes to Sandown with a big chance. It's a warm Listed but
her form is there for all to see."
Posted By: Wilsley News
31
AUG

FLASHY GETTING CLOSE TO REAPPEARANCE

FLASHY WINGS pleased the boss in her work with ZAHOUR AL YASMEEN and LAKSHMI this
morning but a trip to York next week has been ruled out.
'Flashy' showed much of her trademark ability to quicken as she won the gallop on
the summer ground. More importantly her subsequent scope was good.
Mick observes: "She scoped as clear as she has all year which is what I wanted to see.
We've had recurring mucus problems with her but the bactereologist is pleased and we
seem to be getting somewhere at long last. My inclination is to miss the Strensall
Stakes, hold our nerve and wait another fortnight with her."
Posted By: Wilsley News
31
AUG

FRENCH GROUP 1 ON CARDS FOR HATTA

HATTA FORT looks set for a trip to Longchamp on Arc day where his target is the Group
1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere over seven furlongs.
Mick hasn't entirely ruled-out the National Stakes at The Curragh for our
Superlative Stakes winner, but is favouring France.
He said: "The National Stakes is still a possibility but I think he's more likely to
wait for France.
"He worked with all his enthusiasm this morning and was just getting into top gear
when Sam Hitchcott felt his girth move back and had to put on the brakes. It was a
worrying moment when Sam dismounted but everything turned out fine."
Hatta Fort came from last to first under Hugh Bowman to land the Superlative
since when he's enjoyed a short mid-season break. 
Posted By: Wilsley News
28
AUG

YOUMZAIN SPARKLES AHEAD OF GROSSER

YOUMZAIN looked in top form as he completed his preparation for the Grosser Preis Von Baden in a workout with NOTICEABLE and CAPABLE GUEST on the summer ground this morning.

The King George And Queen Elizabeth Stakes second delighted Mick as he finished full of running between his stablemates.

"That was just what I'd hoped to see and he looks in the form of his life for Germany," said Mick. "Everything's gone according to plan since Ascot and it looks as if we'll have Mountain High to beat."

Mountain High beat Youmzain five lengths when winning the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, although Jaber Abdullah's colt was unsuited by the sedate gallop.

Posted By: Wilsley News
28
AUG

COUGHING NIJOOM TO MISS MOYGLARE

NIJOOM DUBAI is coughing and will miss the Moyglare Stud Stakes at The Curragh on Sunday.

Our Albany Stakes winner will be re-routed to the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp on Arc day.

Mick explained: "Nijoom Dubai gave a few coughs on Friday and again yesterday and we can't afford to take any chances with her. There's nothing wrong with her, it's just one of those things that can happen to any horse. We have five weeks before the Marcel Boussac and hopefully she'll be all right for that."

Jamie Spencer had been cleared to ride Nijoom Dubai on Sunday, having compared her favourably with our Lowther Stakes winner NAHOODH.

At Royal Ascot Nijoom Dubai landed the Group 3 Albany by a length and a quarter from You'resothrilling.

Posted By: Wilsley News
26
AUG

NAHOODH IN TIP TOP SHAPE AFTER YORK

NAHOODH will put her Stan James 1,000 Guineas claims on the line in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket next month after taking her Lowther Stakes exertions well.

The daughter of Clodovil gave Mick a fourth Lowther success when beating Visit half a length in that Group 2 contest last week and the boss said: "She's come out of it good and I'm very pleased with her. The Cheveley is the next step and we'll take it from there.

"Nijoom Dubai goes for the Moyglare Stud Stakes at The Curragh next Sunday after which we'll really know where we stand with our fillies."

HATTA FORT, rested since winning at the Newmarket July meeting, is likely to miss the National Stakes at The Curragh in favour of a crack at the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

Posted By: Wilsley News
25
AUG

DAN TUCKET SLAY-RIDE FOR TADGH AT HQ

TADGH O'SHEA made it another red-letter day on the July course when guiding Box 41's DAN TUCKET to victory in the Unicorn Asset Management Nursery Series Final today.

In what has been a desperate summer weather-wise the sun shone on the last day's racing of the year on the smaller of the two Newmarket courses as Tadgh overcame the challenges of Talk Of Saafend and Red Alert Day.

The triumph followed his Group 3 victory on Silver Touch in the Criterion Stakes earlier in the year.

Box 41's Tim Corby was in fine form afterwards and enthused: "Full marks for Tadgh for successfully defending an unbeaten record on the colt. There's not a lot of him but he's a real tough customer, and Tadgh found the best of the ground on the far side."

Tim's Halicarnassus by-passes the Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor because the ground is unsuitable. He added: "Halicarnassus will be going abroad for either a mile and a quarter race at Longchamp, a mile and a half contest at Cologne or a race at Baden-Baden."

Posted By: Wilsley News
23
AUG

NAHOODH GIVES MICK FOURTH LOWTHER

NAHOODH gave the boss a fourth Lowther Stakes triumph when mastering Visit by half a length in the York Group 2 today, coming from last to first under a typical waiting ride from Jamie Spencer.

While Bint Allayl, Queen's Logic and Flashy Wings went into their Lowthers with impeccable records, Nahoodh was a different kettle of fish altogether, having been beaten in the Cherry Hinton first time out and then in an Ascot maiden.

However, she had too much to do in that and the winner, Albabilia, endorsed the form by winning the Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket.

Spencer missed the break on Nahoodh and sat patiently until switching her wide approaching the distance. The filly picked-up stylishly and got first run on the favourite Visit who flew when seeing daylight. On this occasion Spencer's decisive manoeuvre proved the trump card.

Mick will now wait until Nijoom Dubai has tackled the Moyglare Stud Stakes at The Curragh next month before firming-up plans for Nahoodh.

He said: "She's a very talented filly and I made the mistake of running her first time in a Group race because I wanted some decent ground for her. She was unlucky at Ascot but the winner came out and won a Group 3, which boosted my confidence.

"She's always worked well. I'm sure we'll see the best of her next year. As I said on the site last night, I don't think she's as good as my other three Lowther winners but she's not bad."

Nahoodh had her Stan James 1,000 Guineas price slashed to 14-1 from 33s by the sponsors.

 

 

 

Posted By: Wilsley News
22
AUG

HIGH HOPES FOR OUR THURSDAY TEAM

THE final day of the York August meeting is the only one attended by Sheikh Channon this year and the boss has plenty to look forward to with NAHOODH, JOHAR JAMAL and ROYAL POWER in action.

Nahoodh is a maiden seeking Pattern race success in the Lowther Stakes (2.05) but it would be wrong to underestimate the chances of the daughter of Clodovil.

As those fortunate enough to be able to watch her work can verify, Nahoodh is a class act at home and capable of stepping-up on two efforts on the track.

Mick says: "She's a big filly and whatever happens she'll be better next year, but we think it's better going for a Group 2 than running her in a maiden. The winner of her maiden at Ascot won a Group 3 and while I respect Sir Michael Stoute's Visit and Aidan O'Brien's You'resothrilling I feel we can be competetive and go there with a good chance. She's not a Flashy Wings or a Queen's Logic but she's good."

Johar Jamal tackles the £300,000 St Leger Yearling Stakes (1.35) and Mick thinks this progressive filly can get into the shake-up.

The boss continues: "She's a smashing filly and in good form. She has got to step up again but everything has gone right."

We run a Classic winner in the SKF City Of York Stakes (3.50) and Mick comments: "I feel Royal Power has come back to his best and is giving me all the right signals. Life wasn't made easy for him by his penalty for winning the German Guineas but he can be competetive tomorrow."

Looking ahead to the weekend he concludes: "Championship Point could head for Windsor. Forget his run in Ireland, he could never go a stride on the bottomless ground."

Posted By: Wilsley News