Dave Youngman with the latest news from HQ
Dave Youngman calls in on an old friend
This is a wonderful time at Newmarket and I enjoy going around all the studs to see the various stallions. They are resting now that the covering season is finally over. I went to see FRANKEL recently and as you see from the photo of me with him, he is in wonderful condition. He has a lot of as-yet unraced progeny to come on to the racecourse over the next few months, many that hopefully will perform well.
John Gosden has put a lot of his twoyear-olds into faster work now and they look very nice types. Two worth a mention are Frankel offspring, CASANOVER, a lovely bay colt out of Karen’s Caper. Owned by Godolphin, this unraced juvenile is stepping out very well here on the HQ gallops currently. NEW KING, also a son of Frankel, has taken my eye with some extra smart work now he has been stepped up into faster paces. He is owned by Qatar Racing and is a lovely looking colt.
I plan a trip to the Alain De Royer Dupre stable at Chantilly in France soon and am looking forward to seeing the Frankel filly ZARKAMIYA there. She is out of super mare Zarkava and is owned by the Aga Khan. Her performance in winning at Longchamp recently was very impressive and hopefully she will come to race at Royal Ascot next season. I wish I could get to Chantilly more often as it is so nice there.
Trainer Johnny Butler made a couple of purchases at the recent July sales when buying FAIR POWER out of the Sylvester Kirk stable and BRIGAND from the William Haggas yard. I am sure both horses will be placed to win when this shrewd handler has the money down on them. Johnny was assistant to Barney Curley so knows the time of day about landing nice gambles. These two horses look certain to find their way into the winner’s enclosure when the time is right. I always enjoy visiting Johnny at his Charnwood yard on Hamilton Road here in Newmarket.
Amy Murphy has KALASHNIKOV back in training after his summer holiday and he will soon be schooling over the obstacles to go novice chasing this season. Amy has moved into her recently purchased Southgate stables on the Hamilton Road and is seeking to find a new name for the establishment. A fine team has moved with her. Seamus O’Flaherty is the travelling head lad and a very good member of the team having previously been with Jim Bolger and Luca Cumani. Eddie Sibley is back in racing at this stable, he left racing to join the London Fire Brigade but found the lure of racing too much and returned to it.
William Haggas is busy preparing his horses for the big York meeting at the moment as this is his favourite meeting. MAGNETIC CHARM, owned by the Queen, is an unraced filly in this stable I like. Her recent work has impressed me and she looks a filly full of promise and should be a real nice type for next season with a winter on her back.