We’re not heavy on numbers on Saturday, with just the two hitting the track for us, but I’m really excited to send Divine Comedy up to Haydock for the Old Borough Cup (14:25). She was a super impressive winner up there in May and has run blinders in both her runs since. She’s come out of York really well having run with a lot of credit despite the ground being on the lively side for her liking.
With Haydock, you’re always rather hoping the ground won’t get too quick, and so with the unsettled forecast and the autumnal weather beginning to make its mark, I’m hoping it’ll stay around the good-to-soft mark come the race. And if they got more rain than forecast? All the better for her. The main aim, as mentioned in previous blogs, is the Irish Cesarewitch in a couple of weeks’ time, but this represents a nice winning opportunity at a track she loves, so roll on Saturday.
Later that day we send Duke Of Verona to Kempton (17:30) and I’m quietly confident of a nice run. He ran a cracker at Goodwood the other day, and it was encouraging to see the third in behind him come out and win this week. I’m not wild about the draw he’s got because that can often be a key factor on the all-weather, but the two-mile trip should suit, so long as he can be smuggled into the race somewhat. While I hope he can give a good account of himself, I also have an eye on the Cesarewitch Trial in two weeks’ time at Newmarket, so keep an eye on him for that too.
As far as Docklands’ prep for quarantine goes, it’s so far, so good. He’s yet to gallop since York but that will come either on Saturday or early next week. Quarantine is fast approaching and come Thursday next week the process will have begun. We’re just really excited to get him that bit closer to Australia. We’ll be sharing plenty of content of his trip Down Under on Grosvenor Sport’s X page, so don’t miss it.
Time For Sandals has been pleasing me since York and it’s all systems go for the Group Three Firth of Clyde at Ayr. The one thing we will keep an eye on, however, is the Dick Poole at Salisbury. They’ve just lost the race to the weather and so if they were to rearrange it, it would come into our consideration for sure. Failing that, we’re all set for a trip up to Scotland in two weeks’ time – a weekend which is looking like a busy one for the yard at this stage!
Enjoy your weekend,
Harry