Tattersalls Autumn horses in training purchase Tasmanian Legend made it 2 from 3 for us at Wolverhampton last week, looking a nice progressive horse in the process. Making the running into a headwind had done him no favours at Newcastle at the start of the month and this was much more like it faced with a return to more serene conditions, quickening up really nicely when asked by Kieran O’Neill. He did well for his gelding operation after he first arrived, and with the step up to 10 furlongs and a return to turf still to explore we’d be hopeful there’s a good bit more still to come.
Another Tattersalls HIT graduate Goldsmith also recorded a fifth win for us in the 14 months since he arrived, showing a very good attitude to hold on by a short head over the Lingfield mile. He’s been remarkably consistent recently considering his busy campaign, with just a couple of blips in his first (and only!) try in cheekpieces and then well up in grade when Southwell was riding very quick. He needs things to drop right with his running style, but he’s a very talented individual who will still be competitive from a career high mark. He’s also by no means “just” an all-weather horse and there’s no reason to think he won’t be transferring his form to the turf this summer.
It wasn’t quite to be for Smart Deal at Chelmsford last week, but we had to be pleased with the way he performed to be beaten just a short head on his first try at seven furlongs. Clearly this effort opens up options over the new trip, and he’s always shown us a decent level of ability at home. We were also delighted with the comeback run from Parisiac at the same track a couple of days later considering he was taking on more race-fit opponents and looked to have them on the stretch in the straight. He was our first Newmarket winner at the back end of 2023 and had struck up a good partnership with our very good young apprentice Tommie Jakes. Hopefully it’s a big year ahead for Tommie who reached the landmark of 20 career winners last week, and his will be an in-demand 5lbs for the season ahead.
