Hayley Turner
Lady can strike while iron is hot!
13 July 2012
Last-chance saloon
We’re getting to a stage of the last-chance saloon for Margot Did, who runs in the Group 3 (tyregiant.com) Summer Stakes at York on Friday.
She’s been working well and showing sparkle at home but hasn’t reproduced that on the racecourse this season, which has proved frustrating.
While her best form has been at five furlongs, it’s an easy six at York so the distance won’t be a problem, and I intend to give her a no-excuse ride. I will try to be as positive as I can with her – like the ride I gave her in the Nunthorpe – and then we’ll know exactly where we stand with her.
If it’s not going to be our day, then I really hope Sentaril wins for Kelly Harrison. She does not get the rides she deserves and this would be her biggest win to date. She certainly deserves to win a prize like this, and I think she’s got a great chance.
I haven’t sat on Askaud before, who lines up for Scott Dixon in the mile and a half handicap. She’s been fairly highly tried but has some good form in the book as her sixth in the Lincoln shows and hopefully this longer trip will suit. My other ride is Secret Witness, who again has been campaigned at a good level and was fourth in a Group 3 in Ireland last time. He’s carrying top-weight but should find this sprint handicap easier.
Super Saturday?
I’m really hopeful of a good Saturday and Suraj could get me off to the best possible start in the John Smith’s Silver Cup. He’s won two of his four starts – both under me – and his last win at Doncaster was very impressive indeed.
I think he’s a horse with real ability, he’ll like the soft ground and the guv’nor won this race last year with Tactician, which is a good omen. He ticks all the right boxes.
It’s nice to have a ride in one of the biggest handicaps of the season, the John Smith’s Cup, in which I’m on Stand To Reason for Mikael Magnusson. I’ve never sat on him before so there’s not much I can tell you outside of looking at the formbook. He’s won twice on soft ground, is lightly raced, got hampered last time at Royal Ascot so could be better than that bare form suggests, and has won over this trip before too.
Caledonia Lady makes a quick reappearance in the five-furlong Listed race following her last-gasp win at Sandown last week. I got a few pats on the back for that ride, but it could so easily have been a bad ride, as we endured a nightmare run. Such are the fine lines and centimetres can make the difference between being a hero and a villain!
She didn’t come off the bridle last week so hardly had a race and you need to make the most of these sprinters when they’re in form , so it’s definitely a case of ‘let’s strike while the iron’s hot.’ She must have a great chance.
Sepoy can sparkle on British debut
The blog was hopefully a profitable one for readers last week, as apart from Caledonia Lady, I suggested Nathaniel would win last week’s big race, the King George. Let’s see if I can keep the good run going with Sepoy in this week’s Group 1 event, the Darley July Cup. He’s a multiple Group 1 winner in Australia and will be making his British debut for Godolphin on Saturday. He has good form on soft ground and I think he’s the classiest horse in the race.
And coming to a screen near you...
Finally, I’m really happy with the Racing UK feature on me, which is airing this week. I got on well with Rishi Persad, and I think that came across as I was quite relaxed and opened up. You can see the full one-hour version at 11.30am on Saturday!
Please credit racinguk.com if any copy is replicated
Comments
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I think it’s Margot Done now. She’s had a good innings and ran some good races but she’s not responding on the course and her last 3 races show that. Time for a rest. She has earned it. Although Hayley could ride a blackpoll donkey and get something out it. No doubt I’d back it too. My money is on the Lady tomorrow. Big things ahead for that horse!!
Robert Mcmeeking | 10 months agoGood luck with your favourite fillies, Margot Did and Caledonia Lady. Suraj and Secret Witness have a good chance, too
Pedro Mercado | 10 months ago