Classic Blade runs them ragged

Classic Blade won the Class 2 Conditions Race for 2yo's at Salisbury today under another exceptionally able front running ride from Richard Kingscote. The Racing Post writes:

"An authoritative display in a warm-looking heat by Classic Blade for whom fears that the ground would prove too quick proved unfounded. Tom Dascombe said ' I was a bit worried about the ground because his action lends itself to the soft.'

The Daggers Drawn colt hasn't looked back since a slightly disappointing debut run and followed up his smart Doncaster win with another convincing effort. Making virtually all he kept pulling out extra when pressed by Measurement and had the rest well strung out. Measurement ...ran into a tartar in the impressive winner".

This was Tom's 19th winner of the year and his 3rd 2yo winner from only 17 2yo runners.

Listed Winner

Clifton Dancer surprised us all be leading from pillar to post in a listed race for 3yo fillies over 7 furlongs at Warwick on Thursday 26 July. She was badly drawn but broke really well under a masterful ride from Richard Kingscote and managed to grab the rail very early on. She came under pressure when threatened at the top of the straight but found plenty under a drive in the closing stages to hold out for her first black-type success.

Cyril Pritchard her enthusiastic part-owner was absolutely delighted and with his fellow owner Geoff Neville threw a party for the stable staff at The Malt Shovel in Lambourn on Friday night.

Declarations and entries w/c 23rd June 2008

Yesterday Rowan River ran in the Fillies' Handicap Stakes at Windsor, she came fourth beaten only a length by the winner.

Campbeltown Trader also ran at Windsor and was pipped at the post in the 6 furlong Maiden Auction Stakes.

The Racing Post wrote "Campbeltown Trader enjoyed this better ground to step up on his debut effort, but he is another who should get further and so come into his own later this season.

Today Haafhd Time runs at Newbury in the 6.50 Maiden Auction Fillies' Stakes.

Wednesday Prince Desire runs at Salisbury in the 5.20 Handicap Stakes.

Thursday Clifton Dancer runs at Warwick in the 3.50 Listed Race.

Friday Caprio is entered at Chester in the 8.20 Claiming Stakes and again at Chester on Saturday in the 5.05 Handicap Stakes.

On Sunday Classic Blade in entered in the 4.05 Auction Stakes at Salisbury.

Zaskar and Naughty Thoughts

Zaskar ran a great race at Le Lion D'Angers on Friday last to come second in the listed Prix Urban Sea. She refused to settle and her rider, Davy Bonilla, had a terrible time trying to manage her but despite everything she absolutely flew once he pressed the button in the straight and she went from a virtual last to second inside the final furlong. This gives her the coveted black type which she went to France to earn and her owners were delighted.

Later that day at York Naughty Thoughts won her third race for us since being purchased out of a seller and added a further £6,500 to her prize money. She is very well related including to some classy jumpers so she should go on to better things both on the flat and over jumps.

Declarations and entries w/c 16th June 2008

Wednesday Caprio runs at Kempton in the 8.10 Handicap Stakes.

Thursday Campbeltown Trader is entered at Great Leighs in the 6.30 Maiden Auction Stakes.

Saturday at Lingfield, Firth of Fifth is entered in the 7.25 Maiden Auction Stakes.

Prix Urban Sea, Friday 13 June

Zaskar runs in the listed race, the Prix Urban Sea, for 3yo fillies at Le Lion D'Angers tomorrow, Friday. The race is due off at 4.05 pm local time and is over 1m 3f 110 yrds. This is the same race that Shawhill came second in last year. There are just nine runners and she must have a decent chance. She is now rated 82 having gone up 11 lbs for her win last time out. The highest rated horse running against her tomorrow is Without Precedent, at 88.

Michaela left with Zaskar last night and they arrived at Florent Monnier's yard about 10.00am this morning. The weather there is similar to here with some light rain. Zaskar will appreciate some give in the ground.

The owners Peter Deal and Michael Silver and their wives/ partners together with Tom and his good friend Stewart Little fly over tomorrow morning.

Declarations and entries w/c 9th June 2008

Tomorrow Desert Dreamer runs at Salisbury in the 2.45 Claiming Stakes.

Wednesday Caprio runs at Kempton in the 7.25 Handicap Stakes.

Thursday Firth of Fifth is entered in the 2.10 Maiden Stakes at Newbury but is likely to be balloted out.

Also at Newbury on Thursday Doctor Robert is entered in the 3.15 Handicap Stakes, Zasker in the 3.50 Listed Race and Caprio in the 4.25 Handicap Stakes.

Friday Caprio is entered at Goodwood in the 9.05 Handicap Stakes and Naughty Thoughts is entered at York in the 5.05 Apprentice Stakes.

Saturday Zaskar is entered at York in the 4.00 Handicap Stakes and Firth of Fifth in the 4.30 Maiden Stakes, also at York.

Classic Blade, first 2yo winner this year

Classic Blade made all to win the 6f maiden auction stakes at Doncaster this evening seeing off the Sir Mark Prescott even money favourite who could only finish fourth. This was Classic Blade's second run having finished fourth on his debut six weeks ago. He had improved significantly over the intervening weeks and I was reasonably confident that he would run well and be my first 2yo winner of the season.

I am so pleased for all the members of the Classic Strollers Partnership and for Evan Sutherland and Caroline Ingram who have been a great supporters of the yard. This was Caroline's first winner as an owner.

That is now 15 winners this year with some really nice horses still to make their debuts.

Declarations and entries w/c 2nd June 2008

Desert Dreamer runs tomorrow at Folkestone in the 7.50 Handicap Stakes.

On Wednesday Gross Prophet runs in the 6.40 at Kempton and Prince Desire in the 8.40 also at Kempton.

Classic Blade in entered on Friday at Doncaster in the 7.10 Maiden Auction Stakes and Clifton Dancer is entered at Epsom in both the 4.50 Listed Race and the 5.25 Handicap Stakes.

On Saturday Desert Dreamer is entered at Lingfield in the 8.10 Handicap Stakes and again on Sunday in the 3.00 Handicap Stakes at Brighton.