Newton Abbot Double

       Sirekoff Winner at Newton Abbot

It was brilliant day at Newton Abbot yesterday for the team with a double and a winner also for our amateur Martin McIntyre.  We won the first and last races of the day, we book ended the card so to speak.  It was lovely to get a first win for Sirekoff over hurdles yesterday and especially nice for his owners who are new into racing and this was their first ever winner.  We only purchased the five year old last month from Doncaster sales but he has settled in really well since arriving and pleased us in everything he has done at home but they always have to go and prove it on the track.  He travelled strongly and jumped well and was always just doing enough when Jack Tudor asked him for his effort from turning for home.  The track and ground were probably sharp enough for him but he did it nicely and there is more to come and lots to look forward to.

Via Dante is somewhat an enigma and a law unto himself but it was great he finally rewarded our patience with a win over hurdles in the lucky last.  He is a bit of a cheeky monkey and a playful character that doesn't always choose to use his energy wisely but he certainly did yesterday.  He won quite easily in the end but you would have not though a win looked very likely for much of the way round!  He didn't really travel well for the first part of the race but they went a fairly strong gallop and we slowly warmed to the task.  He should have had a course win over fences to his name last year, he was well clear when falling at the second last fence so this was good for him and all the members of the David Pipe Racing Club.  I hope this will have done his confidence good and he can build on this going forwards. 

     Via Dante Winner at Newton Abbot

Dindin also made a very pleasing comeback to be third in his race under Gearoid Harney.  I thought we might be in a bit of trouble when he came off the bridle at the fourth last fence but he responded very well turning for home and flew up the straight to be nearest at the finish.  This was his first run for a while so he is likely to improve a little for the outing.  He loves his racing and will continue to give us all plenty of fun going forwards.  Myristica never happy from the start and found the ground a little too lively and did not let herself down on it.  It was another good day for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore up at York as they won the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks with Content.

There is no jumps racing today and the stable does not have any runners but there is plenty of flat action to keep us entertained.  York is once again the feature and they have the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes over five furlongs at 3.35pm. This see’s the big rematch between Big Evs and the Australian trained horse Asfoora.  She won the Kings Stakes at Royal Ascot and Big Evs finished third and then he beat her last time at Glorious Goodwood.  Asfoora is favourite to win today with Oisin Murphy on board. 

In the cricket test match between England and Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, Sri Lanka batted first and 236 all out.  There was no play on Thursday morning due to rain but England made a spirited reply with the bat and took the lead, making 259 runs for 6 wickets at the end of Day 2.  

My six year old daughter has lined up all of her dolls towards the outdoor grill.

Looks like she’s preparing a Barbie queue!

Happy Friday!