NEWMARKET
David Youngman pays tribute to the passing of a great trainer as Newmarket gears up for the autumn season
Dave Youngman with all the latest news from headquarters
WELL done to all you readers who attended the Newmarket Open Weekend.It was a great pleasure meeting so many of you, I know from what a lot of you told me you all very much enjoyed yourselves,next year will be bigger and even better. Numbers were down slightly this year but Charlie Appleby’s Moulton Paddocks yard had over 1,000 people visit.
AMY Murphy told me she had a good showing at her yard on the Hamilton Road, the children loved seeing the Shetland pony she has there named Rita. Roger Varian and James Fanshawe told me they had a good attendance too.
THE Showjumping competition was won by Francesca Cumani, Roger Varian was second and Jennie Simcock third. Ryan Moore had four faults so didn’t make the jump-off, everyone had a great time and can’t wait for next year for the next open day.
EVERYONE here at Newmarket is saddened to learn of the death at 87 of former trainer Geoff Wragg. Geoff took over at Abington Place when his father Harry retired, and trained Teenoso, ridden by Lester Piggott,to win the 1983 Derby early in his training career. As a child Geoff grew up at Bedford Lodge, which was the family home;it is now a hotel.He knew his horses inside out and was a very patient trainer, his passing leaves a big hole in the community here in Newmarket. I always enjoyed talking to him on the gallops.
SIR Michael Stoute was absolutely thrilled with the performance of Crystal Ocean in the St Leger.The colt will not run again this year and will be put away for next season now. Sir Michael told me the horse won’t run beyond a mile and a half next season.
The unraced Baritone impressed Ryan Moore after he rode work on it on the Limekilns gallops and, after watching it work recently I was most impressed too. This son of Camelot is out of Star Ruby.
Mori, trained at the Stoute Freemason Lodge yard, had a nice break after Royal Ascot and badly needed her race recently at York, she has been working very nicely and hopefully will win again this season. I hope you like this photo of me with her, she is my favourite filly at the Stoute yard.
NICK Littmoden has decided to start training again, he is renting a few boxes fron Jon Scargill on the Hamilton Road. Nick was a fine trainer of all-weather racers. He has only a small string at present but is looking to buy more at the sales. I am sure he will soon establish himself again in the Newmarket training ranks.
FORMER Henry Cecil-trained Timepiece is now a broodmare at Khalid Abdullah’s Banstead Manor Stud here in Newmarket. She was a big favourite of mine when she raced.She has a two-yearold filly by Dansili named Weekday in training at the Stoute yard, a yearling filly by Invincible Spirit, that will go into training later this year, and a foal at foot by Dubawi.
TRAINERS will be very busy at the yearling sales this month. John Gosden told me he had a fruitful time in America recently at the Keeneland sales where he purchased horses with Anthony Stroud for Sheikh Mohammed.Some of these will be going into training atWarren Place.Things look very bright indeed for Godolphin next season with the addition of Warren Place to add to their training establishments.