Back at Compton

Wonderful to be back at Compton this morning, by very kind permission of Hughie Morrison. Hughie has taken over the lease from Peter Cundall and is looking after the gallops so carefully. They have been re-fenced and are in excellent condition.

We worked an interesting bunch of four horses. Oscar Urbina was given the morning off his duties as one of a cluster of chief work-riders at Godolphin to get aquainted with Gwafa, who he rides in the Copo D’Oro at San Sebastain on 15th August. Oscar won on both Australia Day and Tindaro for us and so he seemed a very logical choice, despite the fact that he is not riding so much in England now. His ‘local knowledge’ and experience will count for a lot. He was very pleased with Gwafa who did good easy work and didn’t realise that he was also carrying a weight-cloth with an extra 14lbs.!

It was very special to get the services of one A.P. McCoy, almost exactly a year since the amazing party J.P. organised for his retirement. We wanted ‘A.P.s’ opinion of a horse we all think the world of, Detonate (FR) and he seemed to think our hopes were not too wide of the mark. Detonate is aimed at a 3.y.o. Males only AQPS. 2400m Flat race, worth Euro18k. at Moulins, south –east of Paris on 25th August.

Two un-raced four year olds completed the line-up and both looked to go really well. Gerald was ridden by a very light Lemmy (Liame) Douglas and would have been getting a bit of weight from his rivals, but still impressed with his professional Attitude and the way he ‘galloped out’. Danny Hannig rode My Judge who has sharpened up markedly for his gallop at Newbury three weeks ago. Both of these horses will want a galloping track so Worcester on 17th and 21st August may be their best options.

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