Crowley calls it: “Sunblazer has a very good chance in Queen’s Prize”
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Top jockey is at Kempton this weekend
I thought I was a bit unlucky not to have a winner over in Dubai last weekend.
Muntazah ran a massive race to finish second. I thought he’d go well and he did. I just couldn’t get out in time. I was held in by another runner of Doug Watson’s which was quite annoying. He flew once he’d got out.
I think if we had got rolling a bit sooner he might well have won. Normally on the dirt races there they go hard but it was the one race on the night that they didn’t.
Touch wood, if he’s sound and in top order next year I’d imagine he’d be one of the favourites for the Godolphin Mile. Gold Star also outran his odds and finished fifth.
He’s only a young horse and is certainly one to keep on the right side of in the future. I had a second and a third on the night which wasn’t too bad a return on the night.
It won’t really feel like the start of the flat season until the Craven comes along but I’m doing a lot of riding out at the moment and sitting on some really nice horses which I’m really enjoying and gives me a real buzz.
Over the last few days I’ve been riding horses that finished mid division in some maidens last year and didn’t catch your eye, but they feel a different proposition this year and already we’ve hopefully unearthed a few gems.
Kempton
This is his first start for Robert Cowell, the Sprint King as they call him. He had been with Roger Varian. He has a lovely pedigree, being a half-brother to a Group Three winner called Spangled that I won on before.
I think this could be a really nice buy. Robert bought it for £100,000 and he has some really good form over five furlongs.
Robert does tend to do well with these types of horses. He’s bought well from the big yards before.
He’s rated 97, is drawn really well in two and he looks a useful type and if he’s fit then he should go well tomorrow.
I know him. I’ve ridden him a couple of times in the past when he was with William Haggis. He has some good Group placed form, finishing third behind The Tin Man at Newbury over six furlongs.
With that form in the book he has a chance although the high draw isn’t helpful. It depends how quick they go as he’s not a front runner or a leader.
He can slot in and hopefully run a decent race. It’s his first run though so hard to weigh up how ready he is.
I went to Hong Kong in December to ride her, in a Group One, and she ran really well. She’s now dropping down into Listed class and is a long way clear on the ratings.
She is going back from a mile and a half to just a mile which could possibly be on the sharp side but she’s a very smart filly.
She’s six years old now and she could have gone off to stud but her owners have persevered with her and I think they would like to get a couple more Group race wins in the bag before she retires.
It will be interesting to see how she goes. She has a favourite’s chance.
I didn’t ride Rajaam when he won last time out but he was impressive and with the Richard Hannon stable in form then we’ve every chance.
It’s a nice race with some smart opposition. However with a good draw we’re going into it with hope of a positive performance.
I’ve won a few races on him before and he is an absolute legend to ride; a proper dude. He won at Newmarket last year and loves it at Kempton which is a big plus.
He’s had a run, he’s fit, came third last time out and I think he has a very good chance. The Queens Prize is always a competitive race though.
Jim
