Racing latest
July tends be the month when most people are dreaming of summer holidays or, in those Covid times, staycations but for Mike Smith it’s the month when he dreams of saddling winners.
Already this month Mike has been in the Winners Enclosure twice – both times at Ayr – with Royal Countess and Black Friday.
And before the month is out he hopes to have a few more successes.
Indeed things are looking up for the hard working trainer who is based at West Loudoun Farm outside Galston.
He is shortly to build up to 10 new stables and will soon have more than 40 horses in his care, including around eight national hunt youngsters.
The plan for Black Friday long term is the Ayr Bronze Cup in September after he defeated a former winner of that race in Music Society at Ayr last Monday.
“That’s 100 per cent the plan”, admitted Mike.” “But before that we may give the owners a day out at Ascot as Carol Bartley has been asking me to enter him in the Longines ladies’race at Ascot later this month so she can ride him.”
One filly who will ever be associated with the Smith yard is Sophie P who he bought for £3,500 and sold for £160,000 after having won more than £60,000 in prize-money for her owners.
Mike is certainly the master of the bargain buys
having also bought Glasses Up, who has racked up £63,000 in earnings, for £2,000.
He may have uncovered another gem in Tilsitt, a four year-old he paid £3,500 for and who impressed when third at Ayr last Monday he is another one for the notebook.
Mike is holding an Open Day at his West Loudoun base on Sunday, August 22 and I‘ll give you more details in the coming weeks.
Jim Goldie landed a big priced double at Ayr Racecourse yesterday as his run of form continued.
His first winner came with the mare Jessie Allan showed great determination to win the Weddings At Western House Hotel Handicap at the huge odds of 40-1.
This was her third course win with the other two coming in 2018.
She raced on the near side and chased the leaders until hitting the front inside the last furlong and holding off the challenge of Rebel Redemption to win by a neck with jockey Andrew Breslin giving her a lovely ride.
Rory, 17-2, made it a double for the Goldie camp in the Book For QTS Ladies Night Handicap over five furlongs coming with a late surge under Paul Mulrennan after being held up and pipping Khabib by a head.
We saw a potential top juvenile in Last Crusader, a 150,000 guineas buy, who was sent off the 11-10 favourite for the six furlong novice stakes and duly obliged.
Trainer Karl Burke could aim the colt at the Gimcrack next month at York.
Danny Tudhope eased the horse home in front of Claim The Stars.
Dumfriesshire trainer Iain Jardine also kept up his prolific run when saddling Merricourt, 7-1, to win the last. The Ayrshire Cancer Support Handicap with Andrew Mullen riding.