In a busy week of runners it was great to get the two-year-olds off the mark through a really decent performance from Refai Alghuraban’s filly Kuwaitya at Lingfield.
It was a pretty impressive effort to pick up the expensive yearling Target Man, especially as the odds-on favourite had looked to have given the small field the slip entering the straight, finishing off very well without Darragh Keenan fully going for her. She had run a nice race on her debut at Newcastle and improved from that here, so we may well campaign her like a good filly now.
We were also delighted to welcome Mr Alghuraban’s recent purchase Cairo into the yard this week. 2nd in the Irish 2000 Guineas behind the top class Paddington, he’s the highest-rated horse we’ve ever had in the yard and we really look forward to getting to know him before planning his summer campaign.
Following on from Kuwaitya getting the juveniles going Atherstone Warrior became our first turf winner of the year the day after at Thirsk. This horse has a fantastic attitude which was very much on display in very testing conditions, with his experience and toughness a big factor in holding off the newcomer Arable with the pair a long way clear. He’s one we’ll try and win another novice with under a penalty and he’s definitely going to be better over another furlong as soon as those races start to appear.
Just as rewarding as the juvenile winners was Legal Reform becoming the first winner we’ve trained for his owners. He’d gone close on his debut for us at Chester and this was probably a career best, always in a good spot and showing both a good attitude and plenty of ability to reel in the well-backed winner when that one looked like he’d kicked clear. We have Chester’s May in mind for him with him really going well around there, and we actually wouldn’t mind the rain hanging around a bit longer for him! It’ll be a step back up in grade but he seems in a great place and he can hopefully be really competitive.
