PALAWAN takes his place in the feature race at Lingfield tomorrow under Ryan Moore in what looks a competitive renewal. Richard said ‘He has shown good improvement over the winter. His runs last year in the Champagne and the Vintage were top class and I feel he has grown into a lovely horse. Tomorrow looks like a great place to start with him and will give us a good indication where to head this season.’ John Gosden’s charge has a Guineas entry and won a Kempton Maiden nicely at the back end of last year. Sea Of Flames has been a horse progressing all winter and will hold the fitness edge.
SILVER QUAY is another horse going to Lingfield with a nice chance. He has improved as a four year, winning his first start back at the track by five lengths. ‘He is a horse who appreciates a trip, he has shown good improvement in his last two runs and with Ryan Moore doing the steering he will be hard to beat.’
FASHAAK, a Starspangledbanner colt owned by Al Shaqab Racing, has his first start for the year in the Seven Furlong Maiden under Pat Dobbs at Lingfield. ‘He is a nice colt, who will improve as the year goes on.’
With the two year old season well under way, Richard sends out two this weekend. The first being STERLING SILVA at Leicester today. ‘He is a lovely colt by Sakhees Secret out of Silicon Star, who has been showing us all the right signs at home.’ Owned by Middleham Park, his half brother Sacha Park was second as a two year old at Naas in a listed race. His dams sister was the winner of the Prix De St George at Longchamp over five furlongs and his dam was out of a winner of a Group 3 as a two year old. ‘His pedigree suggests that he will very capable of handling the five furlongs. The ground will of course be the unknown.’
The second two year old is a filly called Rajar who is by Archipenko, bred and owned by Robin Blunt, running at Wolverhampton tomorrow. ‘She hasn’t got a lot of size but what she does possess is plenty of speed. She will improve plenty for the outing but I think the five furlongs around Wolverhampton will suit her.’