Paul Webber Racing Report – 5

There is always utterly fantastic racing at Royal Ascot, indeed each June it just seems to get better and better. Everybody will have their own favourite moments and I’m sure that we all gather more wonderful memories with each passing year.

The overall highlight was probably as always the presence of HM The Queen. Her attendance and enjoyment of Royal Ascot adds a unique dimension to this meeting. Considering the tragedies, confusion and current worries her country is having to deal with, it is so special to see her being able to have a few hours at a happier ‘coalface’. It was a shame that she did not have a winner during the week, but it looks as though a magnificent ‘plot’ was completed by the way her Swiftsure bolted up on ‘Flat-cap and Whippet Day’ at Pontyfract last Sunday!

My top few highlights are the following:

• The wins for Big Orange and The Tin Man because their trainers have been friends for ages and their achievements were so naturally celebrated by father, sons and family.

• The wonderful range of fabulous Ballydoyle winners and especially that John Magnier was able to attend to witness some of them.

• Coronet just getting up to win The Ribblesdale for Prince Faisal’s Denford Stud. It is nearly 23 years since Myself and Sir Mark Prescott asked Prince Faisal to come over to Goffs to look at one Alzao yearling filly. He arrived as this filly walked into the ring and bought her on his last probable bid for 120,000gns., hence her name Last Second. She was a multiple Group winner, but was beaten a neck in The Coronation at Royal Ascot in 1996, by Shake The Yoke, ridden by a certain Olivier Peslier. In the sad absence of the so unfortunately injured Frankie Dettori, Olivier got her up on the line and gloriously redeemed himself !

• The whole ITV Team, superbly led by Ed Chamberlain deserve tremendous praise for ‘covering all the bases’ and providing really informative and interesting coverage.

Coronet wins The Ribblesdale on the line!

News

We only had a couple of runners last week with TURKEY CREEK finishing 2nd and really running on at the end of the race to only be beaten a diminishing half a length. This race was run at a muddling pace and he was slightly held up in his run entering the straight. If we can find a more galloping track and at this time of year they are not plentiful, he will go close next time. COPPERFACEJACK ran his typical solid race to finish third and wins another prize for consistency… but still not a winners rosette!

Turkey Creek schooling with Richie McLernon

Our only runner this weekend is HONOUR A PROMISE in The Three Feathers Cup at Lingfield. This is an ‘unofficial’ race where the horses are ridden by stable-staff who are from the same yard as the horse and who have not ridden three winners. The result of the race is not used for handicapping purposes, so it gives a chance for a young rider to get racecourse experience. Our rider is the very determined Brogan McCarrick and she is so looking forward to this opportunity. Her burning ambition is to win The Grand National so what better place to start than over 1 ½ miles at Lingfield. I know that “Mable” will look after her as her last run was a creditable Fifth in The Newmarket Town Plate when ridden by Frances Stanley!

TINDARO looks like being our only entry for next week where he might run at Stratford on Tuesday. He has won over both hurdles and fences around there and usually runs very well when fresh. Anno Domini may be catching up with him but we feel all the ability is still present just as long as he has the motivation to match!

Honour A Promise and Brogan McCarrick (nearside)

The syndication of LORD MARMADUKE is progressing well with 70% of the horse taken up. Peter Charter has been a tremendous driving force behind this and his friends have now taken up half the horse. This means that we still have three 10% shares available, The cost of which are £4,500 + VAT with no bills until 1st August 2017.

This week: ”Ripples” – Genesis From the album, Trick of the Tail (2007 Remastered)

Of course part of the wonderful pantomime that is Royal Ascot is the dressing up, but how many people’s dogs wear a hat just to watch the racing on television?

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