A Weekend Double
Mon 21 Aug 2023
WINNER 75 OF 2023: GO CHIQUE, trained by Nicky Henderson OBE and ridden by Nico de Boinville: The 'Staycation Calories Don't Count Handicap Hurdle' over 2m 7f at Market Rasen.
A slight delay to the start, as the setting sun was causing some issues with 2 hurdles in the home straight. But they finally got under way, at a steady pace. Racing in second, she was jumping and travelling well. As they came around the final bend, the pace lifted and she pressed the leader as they came around the omitted hurdles. Taking the lead in the run-in, she ran on well towards the finish, to win by 1 and a 1/4 lengths.
"Go Chique shows a superior turn of foot." Watch the race replay, here: https://www.racingtv.com/results/uk/459755-market-rasen/19-Aug-2023/1930
Nico was very pleased after the race, saying: "We were in the right places throughout in a slowly run race and she showed great speed and stayed on well to the line. A great evening!"
Timeform have given her a career best rating of 119+ saying: "Built on reappearance promise at the second time of asking, proving herself as good as ever, but probably one to take on next time even so; close up, quickened to lead approaching final 1f, kept up to work."
Syndicate manager Tom says: "Well done to her owners, on her 5th win. She was very good and showed her willing attitude, especially on the way to the line, putting the race to bed very well. I'll wait to see what the handicapper does as we do have a race in mind for her next start."
WINNER 76 OF 2023: POWER OF STATES, trained by Simone Brogi and ridden by Mlle Anaelle Mekouche: The 'Prix Du Journal Le Littoral' over 2,300m at Royan La Palmyre.
After his last run in June, he made his way to the glorious south of France to be trained by Simone Brogi. Simone worked wonders with Mensen Ernst when he transferred into to his yard, becoming the winning most horse in France last year!
He looked very well in the prelims and was beautifully turned out. He was last to go into the outside stall and broke well, with Anaelle just allowing the others to take the race on and settling him in behind. Just before the final bend, he began to pick them off and coming into the final 100 yards, flew up the outside, under hands and heels to take the race by 2 and a 1/2 lengths.
Watch the race replay, here: https://www.france-galop.com/en/racing/detail/2023/P/aVBLMjRXYU5EMHNERVhWUGtvZ2ViZz09
Syndicate manager Tim says: "Congratulations to his owners and to Simone for a win on his first start in France! Simone was equally as delighted with his performance. He asked Anaelle to keep him in rear to see him settle and enable him to finish his race better, which he did. He has a race in mind for him next week, but we will need to keep an eye on the weather, but for now, it's the best possible start!"
Limited shares are now available in both Go Chique and Power Of States! You can see them here: https://www.middlehamparkracing.net/buy-shares.htm