The summer seemed not to want to arrive in June & July with the rain never relenting, causing ground conditions to be sodden. Who would have believed that the July Cup at Newmarket would be run in a complete bog?
My flag bearer, Krypton Factor, hated the soft ground in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. In the circumstances he ran very well to be 6th beaten only 2.25 lengths by the outstanding sprinter of recent years, Black Caviar. He hoped to get firm ground at Newmarket for the July Cup but it was not to be and he was given a break to be fresh for the Dubai Carnival in 2013.
Royal Ascot was not a complete wash-out with yearling purchase Black Spirit finishing best of anything to take 2nd in the Listed Wolverton Handicap, beaten 0.25 lengths, over 10 furlongs. Sole Power was a good third in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes, helping to boost his half-sister, Be My Charm‘s (broodmare purchase) pedigree even further.
Yearling purchase, Maristar, made a good start to her 2012 campaign finishing a good 4th in the Trillium Stakes at Woodbine. Hopefully she can pick-up some serious Graded races. Temida helped to boost her half-sister’s pedigree, broodmare purchase ThousandKissesDeep, when taking the Listed Grosser Preis Niederlassung at Hamburg.
My broodmare purchases continued their fine run with – UP, out of Halland Park Lass, was 4th in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes; she was then 3rd in the Group 3 Kilboy Estates Stakes, both at the Curragh – surely she must bag a top race. Veteran Mac Love, out of My Lass, showed he wasn’t too old to compete at the top when taking 3rd in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. On his previous start he’d filled the same position in the Group 3 Diomed Stakes at Epsom, which was one place behind Caldy Dancer‘s Dance And Dance who was then 3rd in the Listed Ganton Stakes at York. Ladies Are Forever was 3rd in the Listed Cecil Friar Stakes at Haydock for her dam Forever Bond.