Kingman rules

PERSIAN King, Calyx, Sangarius, Surfman, Twist ‘N’ Shake, Headman, Nausha, King Of Comedy, Private Secretary. The first three in the Heron Stakes. It’s some list of classic, potential Group 1 winners and contenders for a sire’s first crop.

André’s army

EARLY this week a quick look through Andre Fabré’s entries in tomorrow’s Group 1 Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary was impressive reading.

The list included runners owned by Khalid Abdullah, Sheik Joaan Al Thani, Lady Bamford, Coolmore, Gestut Ammerland, Baron Edouard De Rothschild, Godolphin, Wertheimer & Frere.

Quite an impressive collection owners. You could say that is a who’s who of European breeding all in one yard.

Stoute starring

SIR Michael Stoute has had a few quiet seasons though the middle of the last decades, compared to old days when he was the ‘man most likely to’ train a Derby favourite. With Poet’s Word, Eqtidaar, Expert Eye and Crystal Ocean, he was back in the big time last season.

This year, it looks even better with a Group 1 heading a treble in the pattern races at Newbury last Saturday. His record from Jubiloso’s win on Friday evening to Thursday evening read 10221911115213

It’s almost as if he looked across to John Gosden and said “I’ll have what’s he’s having!”

Opening the doors

SOMETIMES the simplest of things are so obvious you wonder why it took so long for them to take place. It was a bit like the cutaway rail at Dundalk, for years it was, no it’s just not possible and runners raced in a tight, often dangerous bunch up the far rail. Then when it came, it was like it was always there.

What better way to bring racing to the people, and to seek potential owners than for trainers than to open the doors and let people see what goes on in a racing yard.

There’s no doubt it took a bit of organisation and those particapating in the HRI Owners Open morning deserve praise.

Sounds of the summer

“AND the sides are level again!” We are back to the relaxing Sunday afternoon’s of conflict between radio and TV, to Mullane and ‘Mardy’ breathlessly shouting the score. It’s a relief for the nerves I’m from a neutral county!