We’ve got another fantastic team of horses for this season.
We had a very good set of two-year-olds last season that have developed nicely into this year’s strong team of three-year-olds. We’ve got yard favourites, maidens in waiting and some unknown – but hopefully very promising – two-year-olds, too.
It’s a great time of year for all of us at Park House Stables. Here are the four-year-olds.
Achelois ran a really good race in the City and Suburban at Epsom. I’m not sure where she goes next, but she could go up in trip this season.
Alcohol Free had been working well prior to her run at Sandown on Friday. She’ll come on for that run and that by no means was a season-defining run. She was a bit free but showed plenty of enthusiasm. It’s a long campaign and I’m looking forward to targeting all of the top races with her.
Auria won a listed race last year and is a decent filly. She may start in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket. I’d love to get some black type with her this season. As far as an early season target goes, we’ll see how she starts off, but the new fillies race at Ascot might be one for her.
Carolus Magnus ran well at Newmarket, settled and has relaxed at home since. He’ll be winning races this season and may head back to Newmarket next time and be competitive.
Fivethousandtoone has had a setback but had surgery on a hind joint and hopefully that issue is resolved now. I hope he’ll return to action from June onwards. He’s also been gelded so we’ll have him for the next few years. I’ve always thought so much of him and when we do get him right, he can be serious.
Flyin’ High is a winner waiting to happen. He’s got plenty of options in the next week or so. He’s a very smart horse who has had a few issues, but if he gets going he’ll kick on.
Foxes Tales ran in a three-runner race at Sandown last Friday. It was a good place to start his campaign off and I think he’ll come on for that. He always gives his best and is a very consistent horse.
Goolwa made her reappearance on Saturday at Wolverhampton. She won a listed race last year but is still rated 94, so we’ll stick to handicaps until she loses her listed penalty in the summer. She stays well.
Invite was a little disappointing at Newbury last week. The ground was too quick, and the race wasn’t run to suit, so it might not have actually been that bad. She’ll get an entry in the Ordmonde Stakes at Chester. She likes soft ground and we’ll have fun with her when she gets her conditions.
Oo De Lally ran on Saturday at Haydock and wasn’t beaten that far. He’s a 7f specialist who deserves his place in the best handicaps at that trip throughout the season. I think he is slightly better with a little ease in the ground, too.
Something Enticing is a new recruit following David Elsworth’s retirement. I’ve been pleased with her since she joined the yard. She ran well on her first start for us at Kempton, where she made a good move to the furlong pole but just got tired. She’ll find opportunities on soft ground this season.
Spirit Mixer ran alright at Salisbury last week. We wanted to get a run into him before the City Bowl at Salisbury this weekend. That race might be run to suit him.
Tactical has been brilliant for us. He was a Royal Ascot winner at two years old and did well at the start of last season. His form tailed off towards the back end of the season, but we’ve given him a wind op since. He’s now working to a good level again although I think he’ll be a difficult horse to place. Much like King’s Lynn, with this being a very special year for Her Majesty, it would be great to have a winner at Royal Ascot on the year of her Platinum Jubilee.
Valley Forge won the Melrose really well last season, although his form tailed off towards the end of the year. He’s never been the greatest workhorse, so he’s difficult to judge at home. He might start off in the 1m 6f race on Guineas weekend at Newmarket.
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