Barney Runs A Blinder

Mon 08 May 2017

Barney Roy parading before the big race (Photograph: Keith Holland)

The weekend went past with a vague sense of what could have been. BARNEY ROY starred in the 2000 Guineas and showed the world that he will be a force to be reckoned with. The race didn’t run to suit and he did appear to take a hold early on the contest. Once he had settled, coming down into the dip Churchill had the perfect run up the rail, but Barney Roy had to come around horses and got very lost, changing leads on numerous occasions. Once he did hit the rising ground he made up considerable headway but the bird had already flown. ‘I could not have been happier with my lad. He has come on again from the Greenham and I believe this race will toughen him up and turn him into a man. He has a huge stride and on a better track like Ascot, he will be able to use it. The stiff mile will also be right up his street and he should give Churchill something to think about come St James Palace Stakes day, if they head down that route. He has lost nothing in defeat and remains right at the top of my estimations.’ Talking after the race James Doyle says he felt that Ascot will be a much more suitable track and believes that the pace of the race was not run to suit.

A frustrating day on Saturday with five runners finishing in second spot with the unlucky SON OF THE STARS rounding off proceedings. ‘He is a lovely horse, who just got lost going down into the dip. He has done all his racing on the all-weather up to date and so it’s his first experience on a track with undulations. He did however stay on resolutely late on and was unlucky not to get up. He will improve plenty and is an ideal Brittania Handicap candidate.’ EQTIRAAN also ran a nice race in the six furlong handicap to take second place and he is another horse who hasn’t had to deal with too many obstacles in previous times.

The two year old MUTANAASEQ was the one to shine at the end of the day at Doncaster. The son of Red Jazz was having his second run having won at Bath on debut. ‘He is a lovely horse who has improved from his first start to win here under a penalty. He has a big heart and tries his best and will be much better suited when the six furlong races come out as he does his best work late on in the piece.’

Two runners today, one at Windsor and one at Chelmsford. HERMANN takes his chance in the one mile and three furlong handicap. ‘He is very lightly raced being a four year old, but appears in great order. The ground might just be on the firm side for him, but he should go close and will love the trip.’ DENAAR is an exciting new recruit to the yard and is a resemblance of MEHMAS from last year. ‘He cost a bit at the sales but for me he was a standout. He has shown us plenty at home and should be plenty straight enough for this debut. The majority of our two year olds are coming on for the run but this is one we really like.’


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