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Guineas Weekend At Newmarket . . .
Today is the first classic of the year; the Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes – The Group 1 over 1 mile. . . Tomorrow is the staging of the Qipco 1000 Guineas – The Group 1, over 1 mile for Fillies only . . . It is always a very busy weekend in Newmarket and very exciting indeed as the grass season really gets under way in earnest today . . .
We have three runners at Newmarket over this weekend . . . KINGSGATE NATIVE and GOLDREAM both line up for the Palace House Stakes – The Group 3, over 5 furlongs . . . This is where plenty of our best sprinters over the years have started their seasons. It is ideal as the ground is generally fair, it is five minutes along the road which is fantastic for the horses and of course for the owners it is a thrill to be involved in such a high profile weekend of racing . . . Both horses go in to the race very well. KINGSGATE NATIVE at the ripe old age of ten! Has in the past loved this race, having finished second in it last year. He has had a super preparation this year and at this grand old age is a real favourite in the yard, owing us nothing at all – It would be a joy to see him storm home today . . . GOLDREAM had a profitable season last year and seems in fantastic form with himself here at home. He had a wonderful holiday out with a group of companions here on the stud over the winter. He has come back in to training this season with great enthusiasm. This is a step up in grade today but we see no reason why he can not run a big race over this minimum distance on a track he relishes, having won the big handicap on 1000 Guineas day last year . . . Sunday we will have SECRETINTHEPARK making both his seasonal début and début for us in the 3.00pm, Havana Gold, Class 2 Handicap over 6 furlongs. He arrived with us just a few days before Christmas. He is ready to get to the track now, we have arranged for Gary Witheford to put him in to the stalls this weekend to keep him nice and settled on this first start. It is a short trip to make up to Newmarket to get his season going. Of course we will learn a huge amount from him following this race, however hopefully he can make a strong impact this weekend . . .
Today we also have two travelling down to Goodwood. Sadly we had to withdraw IFFRANESIA from the 3.25pm, as the ground has quickened up there over night . . . DORNOCH makes his début for us in the 2.50pm, class 2 Handicap over 7 furlongs. He was a purchase from the Tattersalls Horses In Training sale in October, by Malih Al Basti. He had been trained and done all his racing to date in France. Again, we will learn alot today following this race in regards to how he races over this trip . . . We also have QUITE SMART making her seasonal début in 4.40pm. Despite having raced three times last season and having a handicap mark of 69, we start her season off in a Maiden today over 7 furlongs . . .
FINGERS CROSSED for some luck in running this weekend . . .