Thank you Royal Ascot
Fri 23 Jun 2023
Firstly, a big thank you to the Ascot team for a wonderful week of great hospitality. Carol organised 135 badges for our lucky owners and what a simply fabulous Royal Ascot 2023. The King and Queen attending every day and having a winner, Frankie's farewell tour a winning one and gorgeous weather all week!
We declared 9 runners, with others being balloted out of their intended races. To have nine sets of owners attending the absolute pinnacle of flat racing is a dream for any racing syndicate and we are thrilled that once again this season, we have multiple horses good enough to line up against these top class international sets of famous silks.
International racing at the highest level is a very competitive one. Homebreds from Coolmore, Al Shaqab, Godolphin, Juddmonte and many more power houses, combined with seven figure yearlings or breezers. To even have a horse good enough to be competitive in any of the 35 races is one thing, but to come home with a place or be in the prize money against the world's best, is an honour.
We sent 9 horses to compete, trained by 8 different trainers: Brave Emperor, trained by Archie Watson, Coco Jack, trained by George Scott, Dear My Friend, trained by Charlie Johnston, Got To Love A Grey, trained by Karl Burke, Malc trained by Richard Fahey, Prince Of Pillo, trained by Keith Dalgleish, Revich, trained by Richard Spencer, Shouldvebeenaring, trained by Richard Hannon and The Gatekeeper, trained by Charlie Johnston.
On the Thursday, our 2 year-old colt by Calyx, Malc lined up in the £110,000 Group 2 Norfolk Stakes, over 5f. This was his second start, after winning on debut at Carlisle, on May 22nd. Oisin Orr was again in the saddle and well, he ran a blinder! Closing down the winner, with every stride, it was a simply huge effort from him and Timeform have given him a rating of 104, saying: "Up in grade, was much improved from debut, seeing his race out well after the winner had gone; raced far side, patiently ridden, effort over 2f out, stayed on final 1f, took second near line; he'll stay 6f and may do better still." Tom, his syndicate manager has updated his owners on some future plans - these will show up on our 'Entries' page, so you can see for yourself when they go in.
Got To Love A Grey also ran with great credit, to finish 5th and in the prize money, in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes. Winning the Listed Marygate Stakes at York in her previous start means that she has winning black type on her page and she will look to pick up more, this season.
Delighted that Malc now sits in the 'Top 10 2-Year-Old' ratings in Europe:
Here's the Racing Post report on the meeting top performers, as you can see, racing heavyweights!: https://www.racingpost.com/news/festivals/royal-ascot/ryan-moore-and-aidan-obrien-reign-supreme-again-after-dettori-is-denied-as-he-bids-farewell-to-royal-ascot-a4rxF8P6P3wv/