Southgate Stables in Really Super Form
The resumption of racing continues to be fruitful for the Southgate Stables team especially with the return of jump racing. If I am honest, there was always an initial concern that it would be a struggle to find races for the horses as everybody would be looking to run. However, this in general has not been the case and our equine stars have shone over the last 6 weeks.
Napping came good not once but twice in the space of five days for Steve Surridge’s Eclipse Sports Racing Club when returning to her preferred turf surface. Ridden by Gabriele Malune on both occasions, she made light work of both races, more so in her second race a Lingfield, where there was always the chance of her running flat. She has taken quite a while to come to herself this year and was being extremely reluctant to shed her winter pyjamas, however, she now looks a picture so hopefully she might be able to provide even more for the Club this year.
Napping & Gabriele Malune winning at Lingfield
Emotional Moment made an impressive debut at Kempton when winning by a cosy 4 lengths under Tom Marquand for Melbourne Cup winning owner Mr Gerry Ryan. Unfortunately, things went a little awry next time out when she fly leapt out of the stalls and lost all momentum. I think it is safe to say that we can put a line through that run as, bizarrely, she was just too well and fresh in herself and not really concentrating on the task in hand.
Emotional Moment (in front) & Alice Haynes
Angel’s Whisper came good again at Pontefract when stepping up in class having been raised 7lbs in the ratings for her first win. Silvestre De Sousa took control of the race from the get-go and nothing really stood a chance from when the gates opened. It is lovely to see her finally begin to progress for her owners Chris Nunn & John Shepherd who have had nothing but patience since purchasing her, and another 6lb rise in the ratings means that she should still be competitive going forward.
Angel's Whisper & Silvestre De Sousa winning at Pontefract
Jump racing resumed on the 1st July and thankfully it did not take long for our battle hardened warriors to get into swing of things. Really Super stepped up to the plate in big fashion when winning the Grade 3 Betway Summer Plate Handicap Chase at Market Rasen under Jack Quinlan. Her owners, White Diamond Racing, were insistent on her running even though I was not convinced that she might be out of her depth. I guess the moral of this story is – what exactly do trainers know? Jack had her in a handy position as she produced a sleek display of jumping to win by 5 ½ lengths which prompted serious celebrations from her small syndicate of owners.
Really Super & Connor Fox showing off after their Grade 3 success
I think it is safe to say that everybody was delighted to see Mercian Prince back in the winner’s enclosure at Bangor-on-Dee. Things went a bit wrong for him through the winter as he never really got the fast ground that he prefers, and we also discovered that his breathing was troubling him. A small wind operation and some time out in the field soon put paid to that and he has never been better in his work at home. Due to him never winning over hurdles meant that he was still eligible for novices and this race will have been a great confidence booster for his return to fences.
Mercian Prince returns to form and earns a big pat from Jack Quinlan
Esprit De Baileys also bounced back into the winner’s enclosure and in doing so broke our Uttoxeter hoodoo. Again, his owners, G.R. Baileys Ltd (Baileys Horse Feeds) have been very patient with him as he needed a lengthy period of rest having picked up an injury after his last win at Doncaster in December 2018. Since the resumption of racing he has had a couple of runs on the flat which would have benefitted him for his return to jumping.
Esprit De Baileys & Liv Aulton out at exercise
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